This meta-analysis shows that both the peripheral and cerebral forms of microvascular dysfunction are associated with higher odds of (incident) late-life depression. This finding may have clinical implications because microvascular dysfunction might provide a potential target for the prevention and treatment of depression.
Structural brain abnormalities are key risk factors for brain diseases, such as dementia, stroke, and depression, in type 2 diabetes. It is unknown whether structural brain abnormalities already occur in prediabetes. Therefore, we investigated whether both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are associated with lacunar infarcts (LIs), white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and brain atrophy. RESEARCH DESIGN and METHODS We used data from 2,228 participants (1,373 with normal glucose metabolism [NGM], 347 with prediabetes, and 508 with type 2 diabetes (oversampled); mean age 59.2 6 8.2 years; 48.3% women) of the Maastricht Study, a population-based cohort study. Diabetes status was determined with an oral glucose tolerance test. Brain imaging was performed with 3 Tesla MRI. Results were analyzed with multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses. RESULTS Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes were associated with the presence of LIs (odds ratio 1.61 [95% CI 0.98-2.63] and 1.67 [1.04-2.68], respectively; P trend = 0.027), larger WMH (b 0.07 log10-transformed mL [log-mL] [95% CI 0.00-0.15] and 0.21 log-mL [0.14-0.28], respectively; P trend <0.001), and smaller white matter volumes (b 24.0 mL [27.3 to 20.6] and 27.2 mL [210.4 to 24.0], respectively; P trend <0.001) compared with NGM. Prediabetes was not associated with gray matter volumes or the presence of CMBs. CONCLUSIONS Prediabetes is associated with structural brain abnormalities, with further deterioration in type 2 diabetes. These results indicate that, in middle-aged populations, structural brain abnormalities already occur in prediabetes, which may suggest that the treatment of early dysglycemia may contribute to the prevention of brain diseases. Structural brain abnormalities are thought to be an important pathway through which type 2 diabetes causes brain diseases (1). Indeed, there is extensive evidence that type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of brain diseases, such as stroke, dementia, and depression (1-9), and of structural brain abnormalities on MRI, such as lacunar infarcts (LIs), white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and brain atrophy (10), which in turn are associated with an increased risk of stroke, dementia, and depression (11-13).
Microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is a common pathophysiological change that occurs in various diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), heart failure, dementia, and depression. Recent technical advances have enabled noninvasive measurement and quantification of microvascular changes in humans. In this paper, we describe the protocols of the microvascular measurements applied in the Maastricht Study, an ongoing prospective, population-based cohort study of persons aged 40–75 years being carried out in the southern part of the Netherlands (baseline data assessment, November 2010–January 2020). The study includes a variety of noninvasive measurements in skin, retina, brain, and sublingual tissue, as well as plasma and urine biomarker assessments. Following this, we summarize our main findings involving these microvascular measurements through the end of 2018. Finally, we provide a brief perspective on future microvascular investigations within the framework of the Maastricht Study.
Objective- NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and cardiac troponin T (cTNT) are associated with cognitive performance. Whether this extends to individuals <60 years of age is unclear. We investigated whether age modified the associations between NT-proBNP and cTNT and cognitive performance and structural brain changes. Approach and Results- In 3011 individuals (60±8 years; 49% women), NT-proBNP and cTNT, memory, information processing speed and executive functioning, grey matter (GM) and white matter, and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes were determined. We used regression, adjusted for educational level, cardiovascular factors, and lifestyle factors, to test whether cross-sectional associations between biomarkers and cognitive performance and structural brain changes were modified by age (<60 versus ≥60 years). ≥60 years, higher NT-proBNP was associated with lower memory (β [SD] per 10-fold higher level [95% confidence interval (CI)], -0.11 [-0.22 to -0.00]), information processing speed (-0.12 [95% CI, -0.21 to -0.03]), executive functioning (-0.12 [95% CI, -0.22 to -0.03]), and smaller GM (β [mL] per 10-fold higher level, -6.89 [95% CI, -11.58 to -2.20]). Additionally, higher cTNT was associated with lower memory (-0.33 [95% CI, -0.53 to -0.12]) and information processing speed (-0.17 [95% CI, -0.3 to -0.01]); with smaller GM (-16.07 [95% CI, -24.90 to -7.24]) and greater WMH (10 WMH per 10-fold higher level, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.10-0.52]). <60 years, NT-proBNP and cTNT were not associated with cognitive performance ( P, <0.10). In contrast, higher NT-proBNP was associated with smaller GM (-7.43 [95% CI, -11.70 to -3.16]) and greater WMH (0.13 [95% CI, 0.01-0.25]; P,>0.10). Higher cTNT was associated with greater WMH (0.18 [95% CI, -0.01 to 0.37]; P,>0.10) but not with GM (0.07 [95% CI, -6.87 to 7.02]; P, <0.10). Conclusions- Biomarkers of cardiac injury are continuously associated with structural brain changes in both older and younger individuals but with poorer cognitive performance only in older individuals. These findings stress the continuous nature of the heart-brain axis in the development of cognitive impairment.
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