Altered brain volume and its relationship to characteristics of carotid plaques in asymptomatic patients

Abstract

Carotid plaque is an aggregate marker of exposure to vascular risk factors, which are linked to structural brain changes. We investigated prestroke global and regional changes in brain volume in a carotid plaque population of cognitively healthy individuals and the association between carotid plaque characteristics and these changes.A total of 76 participants were divided into healthy control (HC, n = 28), vulnerable plaque (n = 27) and stable plaque groups (n = 21). All subjects underwent carotid ultrasound and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to examine differences in regional gray matter volumes (rGMVs) among the different groups.The plaque group had a significantly lower mean total cerebral brain volume (TCBV) than the HC group (P = .03). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was negatively correlated with TCBV (r = -0.311, P = .006) and rGMV in the right thalamus (r = -0.589, P = .001). The rGMVs of the right middle occipital gyrus and bilateral lingual gyrus were significantly different between the unstable and stable groups. The gray-scale median (GSM) of the plaque and the total plaque risk score (TPRS) were correlated with the volume of the right middle occipital gyrus (r=-0.478, P = .001; r = 0.541, P = .001) and bilateral lingual gyrus (r = -0.419, P = .003; r = 0.288, P = .04).Carotid plaque is related to the volume of the brain parenchyma and right thalamus. The rGMVs of the right middle occipital gyrus and bilateral lingual gyrus differed between the vulnerable plaque and stable plaque groups, and the characteristics of carotid plaques may serve as indexes that reflect these changes

Integrating multiple brain imaging modalities does not boost prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis in midlife adults

“…Secondly, our methodological approach replicates that of Liem et al, 2017 in a new sample, validating stacked learning as a useful tool for predicting individual differences from MRI-based measures. Finally, our results confirm some of the findings in the neuroimaging literature, namely that individually, cortical thickness and brain volumes are associated with CA-IMT ( Cardenas et al, 2012 , Muller et al, 2011 , Tuo et al, 2018 ). However, these associations are weak in comparison to that of FRS and do not add to that model’s predictive power.…”

“…Separately from functional neuroimaging studies, there is structural brain imaging evidence indicating that CA-IMT is inversely associated with total brain tissue volume, as well as cortical tissue volume more specifically ( Muller et al, 2011 , Tuo et al, 2018 ). In parallel, however, other lines of evidence suggest no association between CA-IMT and total brain tissue volume or gray matter tissue volumes ( Cermakova et al, 2020 ).…”

Integrating Multiple Imaging Modalities does not Boost Prediction of Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in Midlife Adults

“…Secondly, our methodological approach replicates that of Liem et al, 2016 20 in a new sample, validating stacked learning as a useful tool for predicting individual differences from MRI-based measures. Finally, our results confirm some of the findings in the neuroimaging literature, namely that individually, cortical thickness and brain volumes are associated with CA-IMT [14][15][16] . However, these associations are weak in comparison to that of FRS and do not add to that model's predictive power.…”

“…Other findings indicate that CA-IMT associates with lower cerebral blood flow in gray matter and across the entire brain 13 . Separately from functional neuroimaging studies, there is structural brain imaging evidence indicating that CA-IMT is inversely associated with total brain tissue volume, as well as cortical tissue volume more specifically 14,15 . In parallel, however, other lines of evidence suggest no association between CA-IMT and total brain tissue volume or gray matter tissue volumes 13 .…”

Extent and characteristics of carotid plaques and brain parenchymal loss in asymptomatic patients with no indication for revascularization

“…It has been reported that up to 5% of asymptomatic women and 12% of asymptomatic men over 80 years of age have a moderate carotid plaque (stenotic diameter of 50–70%) [1] . Apart from the risk of ischemic stroke, that in this population is relatively low with a reported annual incidence between 0.35 and 1.30% [2] , the presence of increased common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT) and carotid artery stenosis have been associated to cognitive decline [3] , and reduced brain volumes [4] .…”