scholarly journals Circulating cortisol and cognitive and structural brain measures

Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (21) ◽  
pp. e1961-e1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin B. Echouffo-Tcheugui ◽  
Sarah C. Conner ◽  
Jayandra J. Himali ◽  
Pauline Maillard ◽  
Charles S. DeCarli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Visual Perception ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensity ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

ObjectiveTo assess the association of early morning serum cortisol with cognitive performance and brain structural integrity in community-dwelling young and middle-aged adults without dementia.MethodsWe evaluated dementia-free Framingham Heart Study (generation 3) participants (mean age 48.5 years, 46.8% men) who underwent cognitive testing for memory, abstract reasoning, visual perception, attention, and executive function (n = 2,231) 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 and logistic regression to assess the relations of cortisol (categorized in tertiles, with the middle tertile as referent) to measures of cognition, MRI volumes, presence of covert brain infarcts and cerebral microbleeds, and voxel-based microstructural white matter integrity and gray matter density, adjusting for age, sex, APOE, and vascular risk factors.ResultsHigher cortisol (highest tertile vs middle tertile) was associated with worse memory and visual perception, as well as lower total cerebral brain and occipital and frontal lobar gray matter volumes. Higher cortisol was associated with multiple areas of microstructural changes (decreased regional FA), especially in the splenium of corpus callosum and the posterior corona radiata. The association of cortisol with total cerebral brain volume varied by sex (p for interaction = 0.048); higher cortisol was 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.ConclusionHigher serum cortisol was associated with lower brain volumes and impaired memory in asymptomatic younger to middle-aged adults, with the association being evident particularly in women.

Abstract 025: Cross-sectional Relations of Serum Cortisol and Cognitive and Structural Brain Measures in Young Adults: The Framingham Heart Study

Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin B Echouffo Tcheugui ◽  
Sarah Conner ◽  
Jayandra J Himali ◽  
Pauline Maillard Maillard ◽  
Charles S DeCarli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Visual Perception ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Matter Density ◽  
Brain Volumes ◽  
Gray Matter Density

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.

Abstract P121: Twenty-two-year Cognitive Decline Was Significantly Associated With Vascular And Neurodegenerative Brain Changes In The Aric Neurocognitive Study

Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Orlando ◽  
A Richey Sharrett ◽  
Rebecca F Gottesman ◽  
David Knopman ◽  
Andrea L Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Temporal Lobe ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Amyloid Deposition ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensity ◽  
Β Amyloid ◽  
The Mean

Introduction: Studies have found that smaller brain volumes, cerebral infarcts, and white matter abnormalities are associated with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. However, these studies have been limited by short follow-up precluding a strong establishment of temporality. Therefore, it is unknown whether brain imaging findings are preceded by long-term changes in cognition. We sought to address this gap by examining brain imaging and two decades of cognitive changes in and a large, representative population-based cohort of older adults of black and white race. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that 22-year declines in global cognitive factor scores (GCFS) would be associated with a pattern of smaller total brain and temporal lobe meta region of interest (likely to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease) volumes, larger white matter hyperintensity volumes, and greater odds of ≥1 lacunar infarct and elevated brain β-amyloid deposition. Methods: ARIC participants with brain imaging data, complete cognitive factor score, and not missing key covariates were included. GCFS were collected at three visits across 22 years (1990-2013), and brain MRI and florbetapir PET imaging were collected in 2011-13; PET in subset of n=327. Mixed effects models with random intercepts and slopes predicted individual change in GCFS. Outcomes of interest were total brain volume (cc), temporal lobe meta region volume, log 2 (white matter hyperintensity volume), ≥1 lacunar infarct, and elevated brain β-amyloid deposition (SUVR >1.2). Multivariable linear and logistic regression was used to relate outcomes to GCFS slopes after adjusting for confounders, including vascular risk factors. As appropriate, models were also adjusted for total intracranial volume. Results: Among 1957 with complete brain MRI imaging, 1830 were included in the study, 60% (n=1096) women and 26% (n=480) black. At the first visit, the mean (SD) baseline age was 55 (5.2) yrs. The mean (SD) observed GCFS at the three visits were 0.16 (0.79), 0.05 (0.75), and -0.78 (0.86). After adjustment, a 1-SD larger decline in GCFS was significantly associated with a smaller brain volume by 1.6% [95%CI: 1.3, 1.8] relative to mean brain volume, a smaller temporal lobe meta region volume by 2.4% [2.1, 2.8] relative to the mean volume, a 15% [11, 19] larger volume of white matter hyperintensities, 1.3-fold [1.2, 1.4] higher odds of having ≥1 lacune, and 1.8-fold [1.4, 2.4] higher odds of elevated brain β-amyloid deposition. Associations remained significant after further adjustment for first or last GCFS. Conclusions: Greater declines in long-term cognitive functioning were significantly associated with smaller brain volumes and dementia-related brain characteristics and were independent of last visit GCFS. This suggests long-term changes in cognition may precede late-life brain morphology and outperform cross-sectional cognitive measures.

Abstract 38: Glucose Levels and Brain Gray Matter Volume in Middle-aged Adults: Findings From the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults CARDIA Study

Circulation ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Elbejjani ◽  
R Nick Bryan ◽  
Pamela J Schreiner ◽  
David R Jacobs ◽  
Cora E Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Fasting Glucose ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Smoking History ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Background: Type II diabetes has been widely linked to a higher risk of dementia. Some studies have also shown relationships between diabetes and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of exacerbated brain aging and neurocognitive pathology, such as gray matter (GM) volume atrophy. However, data on the earlier impacts of glucose levels on GM volume in younger subjects are scarce. Objective: We assessed the cross-sectional relationship of fasting glucose levels and GM volume measured at middle-age. Methods: Data come from the brain MRI sample of the CARDIA study, a bi-racial community-dwelling cohort of middle-aged adults (n=709, mean age=50 (SD=3.5)). We used multivariable linear regression models and adjusted for potential confounders, including several cardiovascular and metabolic factors (hypertension, body mass index, smoking, history of vascular disease, and hypercholesterolemia). Results: Higher fasting glucose levels were associated with smaller total GM volume (-1 mL (95%CI= -0.16, -0.04) smaller GM volume per each 1 mg/dL increase in glucose levels). In analyses exploring the normal (<100 mg/dL), pre-diabetic (≥100, <126 mg/dL), and diabetic glucose ranges (≥126 mg/dL), we found that subjects with diabetic glucose levels had -14 mL smaller GM (95%CI= -21.50, -5.61; p=0.001) than subjects with normal glucose levels; subjects with pre-diabetic levels were not significantly different from those with normal levels (p for trend for the glucose-range categories =0.08). Conclusion: Results suggest that important relationships between glucose levels and smaller GM can already be detected at middle-age. These associations were particularly pronounced in the diabetic glucose ranges. Findings strengthen the links between vascular factors and brain health and emphasize the importance of studying the earlier stages of these links to improve our understanding of the course of brain diseases and to identify optimal time-windows for prevention and treatment strategies.

White Matter but not Gray Matter Volumes are Associated with Cognition in Community-Dwelling Chinese Populations

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Quan Wang ◽  
Ning Su ◽  
Jin Huang ◽  
Xinyu Liang ◽  
Jing Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Completion Time ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Small Vessel Disease ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Subcortical White Matter ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
White Matter Injury ◽  
Imaging Markers

Background: Few studies have investigated the association between cognition and brain volume associated with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Objective: We investigated the association between cognition and brain volume and neuroimaging markers of CSVD in a community-dwelling population. Methods: Participants (n = 993, age≥35 years) from the community-based Shunyi Study were included to investigate the association between neuroimaging markers and cognition cross-sectionally. Magnetic resonance imaging markers included brain volume measurements of the total cerebrum, white matter, gray matter, and CSVD imaging markers. Cognitive performance was assessed using neuropsychological tests of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Fuld Object Memory, digit span, Trail Making Test (TMT)-A, and TMT-B. Results: For brain volume measurement, subcortical white matter fraction was positively associated with MMSE score (β= 0.034, p = 0.0062) and MoCA score (β= 0.034, p = 0.0174), and negatively associated with TMT-A and TMT-B completion time (β= –2.319, p = 0.0002; β= –2.827, p = 0.0073, respectively). For evaluation of CSVD imaging markers, the presence of lacunes was positively associated with TMT-B completion time (β= 17.241, p = 0.0028). Conclusion: In community-dwelling populations, reduced white matter volumes, as a consequence of aging and vascular damage, are associated with worse global cognition and executive function. Our findings provide potential insights into the correlation between cognition and CSVD-associated subcortical white matter injury.

scholarly journals Cognitive Impact of Lacunar Infarcts and White Matter Hyperintensity Volume

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew W. Warren ◽  
Myron F. Weiner ◽  
Heidi C. Rossetti ◽  
Roderick McColl ◽  
Ron Peshock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensity ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Lacunar Infarcts ◽  
Automated Method ◽  
Moca Score

Background: Subcortical lacunar infarcts and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are common neuroradiological findings, but few studies associate between these insults and cognition in a community-dwelling population. Methods: The Dallas Heart Study is a population-based initiative whose assessments included demographic and clinical findings including brain MRI and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The presence and number of lacunes in subjects aged over 55 years were assessed by study physicians. The WMH volume was measured by an automated method. The association between the presence and number of lacunar infarcts and of WMH volume with the total MoCA score and subdomains was assessed using linear regression with adjustment for age, gender and self-reported ethnicity. Results: In 609 subjects with valid data, both the presence and the increasing number of lacunes were associated with lower MoCA scores, even after adjusting for demographic variables. The presence of lacunes was also associated with lower scores in the memory, executive and attention subdomains. The WMH volume was not significantly associated with the MoCA score. Conclusion: The presence and increasing number of lacunes in midlife is associated with a lower performance in multiple domains of a cognitive screening measure after adjusting for demographic factors.

scholarly journals PM2.5 associated with gray matter atrophy reflecting increased Alzheimers risk in older women

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011149
Author(s):  
Diana Younan ◽  
Xinhui Wang ◽  
Ramon Casanova ◽  
Ryan Barnard ◽  
Sarah A. Gaussoin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Supervised Machine Learning ◽  
Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Gray Matter Atrophy ◽  
Pattern Similarity

Objective:To examine whether late-life exposure to PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters <2.5-µm) contributes to progressive brain atrophy predictive of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using a community-dwelling cohort of women (aged 70-89) with up to two brain MRI scans (MRI-1: 2005-6; MRI-2: 2010-11).Methods:AD pattern similarity (AD-PS) scores, developed by supervised machine learning and validated with MRI data from the AD Neuroimaging Initiative, was used to capture high-dimensional gray matter atrophy in brain areas vulnerable to AD (e.g., amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, thalamus, inferior temporal lobe areas and midbrain). Based on participants’ addresses and air monitoring data, we implemented a spatiotemporal model to estimate 3-year average exposure to PM2.5 preceding MRI-1. General linear models were used to examine the association between PM2.5 and AD-PS scores (baseline and 5-year standardized change), accounting for potential confounders and white matter lesion volumes.Results:For 1365 women aged 77.9±3.7 years in 2005-6, there was no association between PM2.5 and baseline AD-PS score in cross-sectional analyses (β=-0.004; 95% CI: -0.019, 0.011). Longitudinally, each interquartile range increase of PM2.5 (2.82-µg/m3) was associated with increased AD-PS scores during the follow-up, equivalent to a 24% (hazard ratio=1.24; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.34) increase in AD risk over 5-years (n=712; aged 77.4±3.5 years). This association remained after adjustment for socio-demographics, intracranial volume, lifestyle, clinical characteristics, and white matter lesions, and was present with levels below US regulatory standards (<12-µg/m3).Conclusions:Late-life exposure to PM2.5 is associated with increased neuroanatomical risk of AD, which may not be explained by available indicators of cerebrovascular damage.

The Clinical Value of Periventricular White Matter Hyperintensity on MRI in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

2021 ◽  
pp. 000348942110189
Author(s):  
Jung Woo Lee ◽  
Deoksu Kim ◽  
Seokhwan Lee ◽  
Sung-Won Choi ◽  
Soo-Keun Kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Periventricular White Matter ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
Hearing Gain

Objectives: To assess the clinical value of periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PWMH) found on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Methods: In this prospective study, 115 patients who were diagnosed with SSNHL aged between 55 and 75 years were analyzed. All subjects underwent brain MRI and were divided into a PWMH and control groups, depending on the presence of PWMH on MRI. PWMH was subdivided into 3 groups according to severity. Pure-tone average results and hearing gain were compared between the 2 groups before treatment and 2 months after treatment. Hearing improvement was assessed using Sigel’s criteria. Results: A total of 106 patients (43 in the PWMH group and 63 in the control group) finally completed the 2-month follow-up. Average hearing gain in the PWMH group was significantly higher than in the control group (34.8 ± 20.3 and 25.9 ± 20.3, respectively, P = .029). PWMH score 1 showed significantly better hearing levels and hearing gain compared to PWMH score 3 and the control group. Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, better initial hearing level, and the presence of PVWM score 1 were associated with good recovery. Conclusions: The presence of PWMH score 1 on brain MRI in patients with SSNHL was associated with better treatment response and was a good prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis while the hearing recovery in more severe PWMH (scores 2, 3) was not different from the control group.

scholarly journals Can post-mortem MRI be used as a proxy for in vivo? A case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baayla D C Boon ◽  
Petra J W Pouwels ◽  
Laura E Jonkman ◽  
Matthijs J Keijzer ◽  
Paolo Preziosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Early Onset Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
And Diffusion

Abstract Post-mortem in situ MRI has been used as an intermediate between brain histo(patho)logy and in vivo imaging. However, it is not known how comparable post-mortem in situ is to ante-mortem imaging. We report the unique situation of a patient with familial early-onset Alzheimer’s disease due to a PSEN1 mutation, who underwent ante-mortem brain MRI and post-mortem in situ imaging only 4 days apart. T1-weighted and diffusion MRI was performed at 3-Tesla at both time points. Visual atrophy rating scales, brain volume, cortical thickness and diffusion measures were derived from both scans and compared. Post-mortem visual atrophy scores decreased 0.5–1 point compared with ante-mortem, indicating an increase in brain volume. This was confirmed by quantitative analysis; showing a 27% decrease of ventricular and 7% increase of whole-brain volume. This increase was more pronounced in the cerebellum and supratentorial white matter than in grey matter. Furthermore, axial and radial diffusivity decreased up to 60% post-mortem whereas average fractional anisotropy of white matter increased approximately 10%. This unique case study shows that the process of dying affects several imaging markers. These changes need to be taken into account when interpreting post-mortem MRI to make inferences on the in vivo situation.

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