Seo MS, et al. - Whether serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels could be related to leukoaraiosis was investigated in this cross-sectional study. Researchers examined this link among middle-aged and older adults. Participants included 2,164 Korean adults aged ≥ 45 years. Using chemiluminescence immunoassay, they quantified serum CEA levels and defined quartiles: Q1: ≤ 1.1, Q2: 1.2–1.6, Q2: 1.7–2.4, and Q4: ≥ 2.5 ng/mL. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and leukocyte count, they calculated ORs and 95% CIs for leukoaraiosis based on brain MRI scans across serum CEA quartiles using multiple logistic regression analysis. Findings revealed a positive and independent association of serum CEA levels with leukoaraiosis. For evaluating leukoaraiosis in clinical settings, the possible utility of serum CEA level as an additional measure was suggested.