Cardiovascular disease risk exacerbates brain aging among Hispanic/Latino adults in the SOL-INCA-MRI Study

Abstract

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are highly prevalent among Hispanic/Latino adults, while the prevalence of MRI infarcts is not well-documented. We, therefore, sought to examine the relationships between CVD risk factors and infarcts with brain structure among Hispanic/Latino individuals.MethodsParticipants included 1,886 Hispanic/Latino adults (50–85 years) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of the Study of Latinos—Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging-MRI (SOL-INCA-MRI) study. CVD risk was measured approximately 10.5 years before MRI using the Framingham cardiovascular risk score, a measure of 10-year CVD risk (low (<10%), medium (10- < 20%), and high (≥20%)). MR infarcts were determined as present or absent. Outcomes included total brain, cerebral and lobar cortical gray matter, hippocampal, lateral ventricle, and total white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes. Linear regression models tested associations between CVD risk and infarct with MRI outcomes and for modifications by age and sex.ResultsSixty percent of participants were at medium or high CVD risk. Medium and high CVD risk were associated with lower total brain and frontal gray matter and higher WMH volumes compared to those with low CVD risk. High CVD risk was additionally associated with lower total cortical gray matter and parietal volumes and larger lateral ventricle volumes. Men tended to have greater CVDRF-related differences in total brain volumes than women. The association of CVD risk factors on total brain volumes increased with age, equal to an approximate 7-year increase in total brain aging among the high-CVD-risk group compared to the low-risk group. The presence of infarct(s) was associated with lower total brain volumes, which was equal to an approximate 5-year increase in brain aging compared to individuals without infarcts. Infarcts were also associated with smaller total cortical gray matter, frontal and parietal volumes, and larger lateral ventricle and WMH volumes.ConclusionThe high prevalence of CVD risk among Hispanic/Latino adults may be associated with accelerated brain aging.

Prevalence of Cerebral Microbleeds and Association With Vascular Risk Factors in a Hispanic and Latino American Cohort

“… 6 We did not find any significant association between hypertension, diabetes, and prevalent stroke/TIA, and the presence of lobar‐only CMBs, which is consistent with the presumed cause of cerebral amyloid angiopathy for CMBs at these locations. 45 Consistent with our previous investigations of brain macrostructure, 46 , 47 our findings suggest that individuals with a greater risk of CVD may exhibit more frequent indicators of brain vascular injury, such as a higher prevalence and number of CMBs in subcortical regions.…”

Prevalence of Cerebral Microbleeds and Association With Vascular Risk Factors in a Hispanic and Latino American Cohort

“… 6 We did not find any significant association between hypertension, diabetes, and prevalent stroke/TIA, and the presence of lobar‐only CMBs, which is consistent with the presumed cause of cerebral amyloid angiopathy for CMBs at these locations. 45 Consistent with our previous investigations of brain macrostructure, 46 , 47 our findings suggest that individuals with a greater risk of CVD may exhibit more frequent indicators of brain vascular injury, such as a higher prevalence and number of CMBs in subcortical regions.…”

Cardiovascular Risk Predicts White Matter Hyperintensities, Brain Atrophy and Treatment Resistance in Major Depressive Disorder: Role of Genetic Liability

“…Phenotypic CV risk is also associated with reduced total and grey matter volumes in our sample, again mirroring the results of a recent large UK biobank study [ 20 ], and of numerous other investigations [ 17 , 48 , 49 ]. Nonetheless, while again frequently reported, the association between cardiovascular health and brain volumes appears to be a complex one, with various pathophysiological mechanisms implicated [ 50 ].…”

Modifiable Vascular Risk Factors and Subsequent Brain Metrics in Hispanic/Latino Populations

“…The findings of this study mirror those of other studies using Life's simple 7 scores in diverse cohorts. Better summary scores of Life's Simple 7 or its components have been found to be associated with lower white matter lesion burden and higher brain volumes including gray and white matter volume 8,9 and builds on previous work using SOL-INCA MRI substudy data 10 by using a vascular risk score solely focused on modifiable factors and also investigating brain microstructural measurements.…”

Prevalence of Cerebral Microbleeds and Association With Vascular Risk Factors in a Hispanic and Latino American Cohort

“… 6 We did not find any significant association between hypertension, diabetes, and prevalent stroke/TIA, and the presence of lobar‐only CMBs, which is consistent with the presumed cause of cerebral amyloid angiopathy for CMBs at these locations. 45 Consistent with our previous investigations of brain macrostructure, 46 , 47 our findings suggest that individuals with a greater risk of CVD may exhibit more frequent indicators of brain vascular injury, such as a higher prevalence and number of CMBs in subcortical regions.…”

Cardiovascular Risk Predicts White Matter Hyperintensities, Brain Atrophy and Treatment Resistance in Major Depressive Disorder: Role of Genetic Liability

“…Phenotypic CV risk is also associated with reduced total and grey matter volumes in our sample, again mirroring the results of a recent large UK biobank study [ 20 ], and of numerous other investigations [ 17 , 48 , 49 ]. Nonetheless, while again frequently reported, the association between cardiovascular health and brain volumes appears to be a complex one, with various pathophysiological mechanisms implicated [ 50 ].…”

Modifiable Vascular Risk Factors and Subsequent Brain Metrics in Hispanic/Latino Populations

“…The findings of this study mirror those of other studies using Life's simple 7 scores in diverse cohorts. Better summary scores of Life's Simple 7 or its components have been found to be associated with lower white matter lesion burden and higher brain volumes including gray and white matter volume 8,9 and builds on previous work using SOL-INCA MRI substudy data 10 by using a vascular risk score solely focused on modifiable factors and also investigating brain microstructural measurements.…”

Prevalence of Cerebral Microbleeds and Association With Vascular Risk Factors in a Hispanic and Latino American Cohort

“… 6 We did not find any significant association between hypertension, diabetes, and prevalent stroke/TIA, and the presence of lobar‐only CMBs, which is consistent with the presumed cause of cerebral amyloid angiopathy for CMBs at these locations. 45 Consistent with our previous investigations of brain macrostructure, 46 , 47 our findings suggest that individuals with a greater risk of CVD may exhibit more frequent indicators of brain vascular injury, such as a higher prevalence and number of CMBs in subcortical regions.…”

Cardiovascular Risk Predicts White Matter Hyperintensities, Brain Atrophy and Treatment Resistance in Major Depressive Disorder: Role of Genetic Liability

“…Phenotypic CV risk is also associated with reduced total and grey matter volumes in our sample, again mirroring the results of a recent large UK biobank study [ 20 ], and of numerous other investigations [ 17 , 48 , 49 ]. Nonetheless, while again frequently reported, the association between cardiovascular health and brain volumes appears to be a complex one, with various pathophysiological mechanisms implicated [ 50 ].…”

Modifiable Vascular Risk Factors and Subsequent Brain Metrics in Hispanic/Latino Populations

“…The findings of this study mirror those of other studies using Life's simple 7 scores in diverse cohorts. Better summary scores of Life's Simple 7 or its components have been found to be associated with lower white matter lesion burden and higher brain volumes including gray and white matter volume 8,9 and builds on previous work using SOL-INCA MRI substudy data 10 by using a vascular risk score solely focused on modifiable factors and also investigating brain microstructural measurements.…”