White matter hyperintensities in cholinergic pathways correlates of cognitive impairment in moyamoya disease.

• Cholinergic Pathways Hyperintensities Scale was significantly associated with cognitive screening tests in patients with moyamoya disease. • Cholinergic Pathways Hyperintensities Scale plays an independent effect on cognitive impairment in patients with moyamoya disease. • Cholinergic Pathways Hyperintensities Scale shows higher accuracy than education, volumes of limbic areas, and sex in identifying cognitive impairment in moyamoya disease.