Cigarette smoking and gray matter brain volumes in middle age adults: the CARDIA Brain MRI sub-study

Introduction: Chronic stress and related changes in serum cortisol have adverse effects on brain structure and cognition in animal models. However, evidence from population-based studies is scant. We assessed the association of early morning serum cortisol with cognition and brain structural integrity in middle-aged adults without dementia. Hypotheses: High or low levels of serum cortisol are associated with lower cognitive performance and brain volumes. Methods: We evaluated dementia-free Framingham Study (Generation 3) participants (mean age 48.5 years; 46.8% men), who underwent cognitive testing of memory, abstract reasoning, visual perception, attention, and executive function (n= 2231), and brain MRI (n=2018) to assess total white matter, lobar gray matter, and white matter hyperintensity volumes and fractional anisotropy (FA) measures. We used linear or logistic (cortisol categorized in tertiles, middle tertile as the reference) regression to assess the relations of cortisol with cognition, MRI volumes and voxel-based microstructural white matter integrity and gray matter density, adjusting for age, sex, APOE and vascular risk factors. Results: Higher cortisol (highest tertile vs. middle tertile) was associated with worse memory and visual perception, as well as lower total cerebral brain, occipital and frontal lobar gray matter volumes (Table ) . Higher cortisol was associated with multiple areas of microstructural changes on voxel-based analyses (gray matter density and FA). The association of cortisol with total cerebral brain volume varied by sex ( Pinteraction =0.048 , highest cortisol tertile inversely associated with cerebral brain volume in women [ P= 0.001] but not in men [ P =0.717]). There was no effect modification by the apoE4 genotype of the relations of cortisol and cognition or imaging traits. Conclusions: Higher serum cortisol was associated with lower brain volumes and impaired memory in asymptomatic young adults in their forties; women may be particularly susceptible to this influence.

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Association of Disease Severity and Socioeconomic Status in Black and White Americans With Multiple Sclerosis

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000012362 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012362

Author(s):

Karla Gray-Roncal ◽

Kathryn Fitzgerald ◽

Lana Zhovtis Ryerson ◽

Leigh Charvet ◽

Sandra D. Cassard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Education Level ◽

Imaging Features ◽

White Americans ◽

Socioeconomic Indicators ◽

Brain Volumes

Objective:To compare clinical and imaging features of multiple sclerosis (MS) severity between Black Americans (BA) and White Americans (WA) and evaluate the role of socioeconomic status.Methods:We compared BA and WA participants in the Multiple Sclerosis Partners Advancing Technology Health Solutions (MS PATHS) cohort with respect to MS characteristics including self-reported disability, objective neurologic function assessments, and quantitative brain MRI measurements, after covariate adjustment (including education level, employment, or insurance as socioeconomic indicators). In a subgroup, we evaluated within-race, neighborhood-level indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) using 9-digit ZIP codes.Results:Of 1,214 BAs and 7,530 WAs with MS, BAs were younger, had lower education level, and were more likely to have Medicaid insurance or be disabled or unemployed than WAs. BAs had worse self-reported disability (1.47-fold greater odds of severe vs. mild disability, 95% CI 1.18, 1.86) and worse performances on tests of cognitive processing speed (-5.06 fewer correct, CI -5.72, -4.41), walking (0.66 seconds slower, 95% CI 0.36, 0.96) and manual dexterity (2.11 seconds slower, 95% CI 1.69, 2.54). BAs had more brain MRI lesions and lower overall and gray matter brain volumes, including reduced thalamic (-0.77 mL, 95% CI -0.91, -0.64), cortical (-30.63 mL, 95% CI -35.93, -25.33), and deep (-1.58 mL, 95% CI -1.92, -1.23) gray matter volumes. While lower SES correlated with worse neuroperformance scores in WAs, this association was less clear in BA.Conclusion:We observed a greater burden of disease in BAs with MS relative to WAs with MS, despite adjustment for SES indicators. Beyond SES, future longitudinal studies should also consider roles of other societal constructs (e.g., systemic racism). Such studies will be important for identifying prognostic factors and optimal treatment strategies among BAs with MS is warranted.

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Quantitative Brain MRI in Alcohol Dependence: Preliminary Evidence for Effects of Concurrent Chronic Cigarette Smoking on Regional Brain Volumes

Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research ◽

10.1097/01.alc.0000175018.72488.61 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 1484-1495 ◽

Cited By ~ 114

Author(s):

S Gazdzinski ◽

T C. Durazzo ◽

C Studholme ◽

E Song ◽

P Banys ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Alcohol Dependence ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Regional Brain

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Mediterranean-type diet and brain structural change from 73 to 76 years in a Scottish cohort

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000003559 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 88 (5) ◽

pp. 449-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Michelle Luciano ◽

Janie Corley ◽

Simon R. Cox ◽

Maria C. Valdés Hernández ◽

Leone C.A. Craig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cortical Thickness ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Total Brain Volume ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Total Brain ◽

Lower Adherence

Objective:To assess the association between Mediterranean-type diet (MeDi) and change in brain MRI volumetric measures and mean cortical thickness across a 3-year period in older age (73–76 years).Methods:We focused on 2 longitudinal brain volumes (total and gray matter; n = 401 and 398, respectively) plus a longitudinal measurement of cortical thickness (n = 323), for which the previous cross-sectional evidence of an association with the MeDi was strongest. Adherence to the MeDi was calculated from data gathered from a food frequency questionnaire at age 70, 3 years prior to the baseline imaging data collection.Results:In regression models adjusting for relevant demographic and physical health indicators, we found that lower adherence to the MeDi was associated with greater 3-year reduction in total brain volume (explaining 0.5% of variance, p < 0.05). This effect was half the size of the largest covariate effect (i.e., age). Cross-sectional associations between MeDi and baseline MRI measures in 562 participants were not significant. Targeted analyses of meat and fish consumption did not replicate previous associations with total brain volume or total gray matter volume.Conclusions:Lower adherence to the MeDi in an older Scottish cohort is predictive of total brain atrophy over a 3-year interval. Fish and meat consumption does not drive this change, suggesting that other components of the MeDi or, possibly, all of its components in combination are responsible for the association.

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Vascular comorbidity is associated with lower brain volumes and lower neuroperformance in a large multiple sclerosis cohort

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458520984746 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135245852098474

Author(s):

Kathryn C Fitzgerald ◽

Anne Damian ◽

Devon Conway ◽

Ellen M Mowry

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Large Population ◽

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Imaging Features ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Comorbidity Burden ◽

Vascular Comorbidity

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the association between vascular comorbidity burden with clinical and imaging features of disease burden in a large population of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: We included participants from the MS Partners Advancing Technology Health Solutions (MS PATHS) cohort. We evaluated if vascular comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) or a composite sum of comorbidities was associated with MS characteristics, including objective neurologic function assessments and quantitative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in propensity score–weighted models. Results: In total, 11,506 participants (6409 (55%) with brain MRI) were included. Individuals with 2+ vascular comorbidities had slower walking speed (standard deviation (SD) = −0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.78, −0.19; p = 0.001), slower manual dexterity (SD = −0.41; 95% CI = −0.57, −0.26; p < 0.0001), and fewer correct scores on cognitive processing speed (SD = −0.11; 95% CI = −0.20, −0.02; p = 0.02) versus those with no comorbidities. Those with 2+ had lower brain parenchymal (−0.41%, 95% CI = −0.64, −0.17) and gray matter fractions (−0.30%, 95% CI = −0.49, −0.10), including reduced cortical (−10.10 mL, 95% CI = −15.42, −4.78) and deep (−0.44 mL, 95% CI = −0.84, −0.04) gray matter volumes versus those with no comorbidity. Conclusion: Increased vascular comorbidity burden was associated with clinical and imaging markers of neurologic dysfunction and neurodegeneration in MS. Strategies to optimize comorbidity management in people with MS are warranted.

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Gray-matter volume in methamphetamine dependence: Cigarette smoking and changes with abstinence from methamphetamine

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.02.017 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (3) ◽

pp. 230-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

Angelica M. Morales ◽

Buyean Lee ◽

Gerhard Hellemann ◽

Joseph O’Neill ◽

Edythe D. London

Keyword(s):

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Methamphetamine Dependence

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Abstract 36: Association of Parental Stroke with Cognitive and Brain MRI Measures in Offspring - The Framingham Heart Study

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.43.suppl_1.a36 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

GALIT WEINSTEIN ◽

Alexa Beiser ◽

Rhoda Au ◽

Charles DeCarli ◽

Philip A Wolf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Abstract Reasoning ◽

Parental History ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Regional Brain ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Objectives- Parental stroke is related to an increased risk of stroke among the offspring. Vascular related brain changes, however, often occur before clinical stroke and the association of parental history of stroke and structural brain measures and cognition has not been fully explored. We hypothesized that prospectively verified parental stroke will be associated with increased vascular brain injury and poorer cognitive performance. Methods- A total of 1,297 Framingham offspring (mean age: 61 ± 9 years, 54% women) were studied. Of these, 9.9% had prospectively identified stroke in one or both parents before age 65. Volumetric brain MRI measures of total cerebral brain volume (TCBV), regional brain volumes, white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), and covert brain infarcts (CBI) and performance on tests of verbal memory, abstract reasoning, verbal learning and visuospatial memory (VRd) were compared for offspring with and without parental history of stroke. All measures were assessed cross-sectionally and longitudinally (mean duration of follow-up was 6.1±1.2 years). We used models adjusted only for age, sex, education and also additionally adjusted for vascular risk factors and for WMHV as an index of subclinical vascular brain injury. GEE models were used to adjust for sibling relationships among offspring. Results- Higher WMHV (β±SE=0.17±0.08;p=0.027) and lower VRd scores (β±SE=-0.80±0.34; p=0.017) at baseline were found in offspring with parental history of stroke. In addition, participants with parental stroke by age 65 years were more likely to be in the highest quintile of increase in WMHV (OR=1.87;p=0.04) as well as worsening executive function (Trails B-A) (OR:1.81;p=0.03). Parental stroke was not associated with total and regional brain volumes or with memory, abstract reasoning and verbal learning. Conclusions- In our community-based sample of middle-aged asymptomatic subjects, the occurrence of parental stroke by age 65 years is associated with higher baseline WMHV and with a more rapid increase in WMHV. Further, parental stroke is also associated with poorer performance on VRd and a decline in executive function. The effects on baseline WMH and VRd were substantial equivalent to 2.8 and 7 years of brain aging, respectively.

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Limitations of the use of the MP-RAGE to identify neural changes in the brain: recent cigarette smoking alters gray matter indices in the striatum

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnhum.2014.01052 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Teresa R. Franklin ◽

Reagan R. Wetherill ◽

Kanchana Jagannathan ◽

Nathan Hager ◽

Charles P. O'Brien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Gray Matter ◽

The Brain

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Associations of cigarette smoking with gray and white matter in the UK Biobank

10.31234/osf.io/wyvnm ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Joshua Gray ◽

Matthew Thompson ◽

Chelsie Benca-Bachman ◽

Max Michael Owens ◽

Mikela Murphy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Brain Structure ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Medial Lemniscus ◽

Uk Biobank ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Uk

Chronic cigarette smoking is associated with increased risk for myriad health consequences including cognitive decline and dementia, but research on the link between smoking and brain structure is nascent. We assessed the relationship of cigarette smoking (ever smoked, cigarettes per day, and duration) with gray and white matter using the UK Biobank cohort (gray matter N = 19,615; white matter N = 17,760), adjusting for numerous demographic and health confounders. Ever smoked and duration were associated with smaller total gray matter volume. Ever smoked was associated with reduced volume of the right VIIIa cerebellum, as well as elevated white matter hyperintensity volumes. Smoking duration was associated with reduced total white matter volume. With regard to specific tracts, ever smoked was associated with reduced fractional anisotropy in the left cingulate gyrus part of the cingulum, left posterior thalamic radiation, and bilateral superior thalamic radiation and increased mean diffusivity in the middle cerebellar peduncle, right medial lemniscus, bilateral posterior thalamic radiation, and bilateral superior thalamic radiation. Overall, we found significant associations of cigarette exposure with global measures of gray and white matter. Furthermore, we found select associations of ever smoked, but not cigarettes per day or duration, with specific gray and white matter regions. These findings inform our understanding of the connections between smoking and variation in brain structure and clarify potential mechanisms of risk for common neurological sequelae.

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Bilateral symmetrical deep gray matter involvement and leptomeningeal enhancement in a child with MOG-IgG-associated encephalomyelitis

BMC Neurology ◽

10.1186/s12883-020-02041-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Weibing Shen ◽

Yaner Zhang ◽

Chenguang Zhou ◽

Yaoyao Shen

Keyword(s):

Gray Matter ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Demyelinating Disease ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Acute Onset ◽

Neck Stiffness ◽

Leptomeningeal Enhancement ◽

Barr Virus ◽

Disturbance Of Consciousness ◽

Deep Gray Matter

Abstract Background Currently, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG-associated encephalomyelitis (MOG-EM) is regarded as an independent inflammatory demyelinating disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities occur in 44.4% of patients with MOG-EM. However, symmetrical deep gray matter involvement with leptomeningeal enhancement is rarely described in the literature. Case presentation A 3-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital because of acute onset fever, headache, vomiting and disturbance of consciousness. Neurological examination showed somnolence, neck stiffness and positive Kernig’s sign. Brain MRI demonstrated bilateral symmetrical lesions in the basal ganglia and thalamus as well as diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement along the sulci of bilateral hemisphere. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis demonstrated increased cell count (7 cells/mm3, mononuclear cells dominant) and protein (1.17 g/L) without glucose and chloride abnormality. Work-up for infectious and autoimmune causes, serum MOG IgG was positive by cell based assay. Therefore, a diagnosis of MOG-EM was established according to the international recommendatory criteria in 2018. He was administrated with intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral corticosteroids and had recovered completely within 1 week. Conclusions In the setting of meningoencephalitis-like clinical presentation with bilateral symmetrical deep gray matter involvement, MOG-EM should be distinguished from other infectious and autoimmune disorders, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and Anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. Besides, aseptic meningitis associated with leptomeningeal enhancement may be an atypical phenotype of MOG-EM.

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