Objective: To investigate the characteristics of cortical thickness and volume in patients with cerebral white matter hyperintensities(WMH) and their relationship with executive function. Methods: A total of 80 patients with white matter hyperintensities and 42 healthy controls were recruited for the study. The patients were further divided into two subgroups, namely WMH with cognitive normal (WMH-CN) and WMH with cognitive impairment (WMH-CI) according to the Beijing version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).Demographic information and risk factors for cerebrovascular disease were recorded. All subjects underwent 3D brain magnetic resonance imaging, and executive function was assessed using the Stroop Color and Word Test, Trail-making Test, Digit Symbol Test, and Verbal Fluency Test. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to determine the association between cortical thickness and volume with executive function. Results: In the comparison between WHM group and healthy controls, there were no significant differences in demographic characteristics and vascular risk factors (P > 0.05)，while there were significant differences in MoCA scores (P < 0.01) and executive function (P < 0.01). The cortical thickness and volume of frontal, temporal, and insular lobes in the WMH-CN and WMH-CI groups were less than those of healthy controls (P < 0.05). Executive function in the WMH-CN group was positively correlated with cortical thickness in frontal and temporal lobes and with cortical volume in the frontal, temporal, and insular lobes (P< 0.05). Executive function in the WMH-CI group was positively correlated with cortical thickness and volume in the frontal, temporal, and insular lobes (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with white matter hyperintensities exhibit cortical atrophy in frontal, temporal, and insula lobes. Cortical atrophy in these brain regions is associated with executive dysfunction.