White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are a common type of cerebral small vessel disease and an important pathological change in cognitive impairment.Numerous studies have shown that WMHs are closely associated with vascular cognitive impakment.This article reviews the relationship between WMHs and vascular cognitive impairment,and provides a new research direction for the prevention and treatment of WMHs in order to improve vascular cognitive impairment.