A latent clinical-anatomical dimension relating metabolic syndrome to brain structure and cognition

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) describes the clustered prevalence of abdominal obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, collectively promoting cerebrovascular disease. Although this risk factor complex causes a substantial health burden in modern societies, its neural underpinnings remain elusive. To investigate the multivariate association of MetS and cortical thickness, we applied partial least squares (PLS) correlation to a pooled sample of two large-scale population-based cohort studies totaling 40,087 individuals. PLS identified a latent clinical-anatomical dimension relating more severe MetS with a widespread pattern of cortical thickness abnormalities and worse cognitive performance. MetS effects were strongest in regions with high density of endothelial cells, microglia and excitatory neurons of subtype 8. Moreover, regional MetS effects correlated within functionally and structurally connected networks. Overall, our research suggests a low-dimensional relationship between MetS and brain structure that is governed by both the microscopic composition of brain tissue as well as macroscopic brain network organization.

Markers of Biological Brain Aging Mediate Effects of Vascular Risk Factors on Cognitive and Motor Functions: A Multivariate Imaging Analysis of 40,579 Individuals

“…This association was statistically mediated by the imaging PLS score, which captures the degree of biological brain aging. This implies that the association between vascular risk and cognitive as well as motor abilities is contingent on variations in biological brain aging markers, highlighting the importance of macrostructural and microstructural brain changes in clinical sequelae of agerelated cerebrovascular disease [18,50]. Our results elucidate the connections between vascular risk and both structural and functional brain health, suggesting clinical applications.…”

Mapping the interplay of atrial fibrillation, brain structure, and cognitive dysfunction

“…Details on the UKB Ethics and Governance framework are provided online ( https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/media/0xsbmfmw/egf.pdf ). 15 Data usage is covered by a vote of the ethics committee of the medical faculty of the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.…”

“…uk/media/0xsbmfmw/egf.pdf). 15 Data usage is covered by a vote of the ethics committee of the medical faculty of the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.…”