Abstract
Background
Growing evidence suggests that increased cardiovascular risk might accelerate brain atrophy and cognitive decline. The aim of this analysis was to investigate associations between the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), brain volume and cognitive function in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) participating in the Diabetes-and-Dementia (D2) study.
Method
Ninety cognitively-normal participants with T2DM completed neuropsychological assessments, health-and-lifestyle questionnaires, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and a 3T-MRI scan. FreeSurfer (version 6.0) was used to estimate total brain volume (TBV), mean cortical thickness and subcortical volumes, including the thalami and caudate nuclei. TBV was expressed as a percentage of intracranial volume. Averages between left and right volumes were calculated for subcortical structures. The sample was divided into low (n=45) and high (n=45) FRS groups based on the median score (X=39.7). Differences in volumes were compared between groups. Four cognitive domains, including visuospatial skills, verbal memory, language, and executive functions & speed of processing information, were derived using a factor analysis. These domains were used to compare cognitive performance between individuals with low and high FRS.
Result
Participants in the high FRS group were significantly older and had a lower percentage of women: age (F (1, 89)=26.6; p
Conclusion
High cardiovascular risk in T2DM is associated with accelerated structural brain aging, manifesting as cerebral atrophy and poorer cognitive function, particularly in processing speed and executive function.
Growing evidence suggests that increased cardiovascular risk might accelerate brain atrophy and cognitive decline. The aim of this analysis was to investigate associations between the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), brain volume and cognitive function in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) participating in the Diabetes-and-Dementia (D2) study.
Method
Ninety cognitively-normal participants with T2DM completed neuropsychological assessments, health-and-lifestyle questionnaires, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and a 3T-MRI scan. FreeSurfer (version 6.0) was used to estimate total brain volume (TBV), mean cortical thickness and subcortical volumes, including the thalami and caudate nuclei. TBV was expressed as a percentage of intracranial volume. Averages between left and right volumes were calculated for subcortical structures. The sample was divided into low (n=45) and high (n=45) FRS groups based on the median score (X=39.7). Differences in volumes were compared between groups. Four cognitive domains, including visuospatial skills, verbal memory, language, and executive functions & speed of processing information, were derived using a factor analysis. These domains were used to compare cognitive performance between individuals with low and high FRS.
Result
Participants in the high FRS group were significantly older and had a lower percentage of women: age (F (1, 89)=26.6; p
Conclusion
High cardiovascular risk in T2DM is associated with accelerated structural brain aging, manifesting as cerebral atrophy and poorer cognitive function, particularly in processing speed and executive function.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e039593 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Alzheimer's & Dementia |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | S6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2020 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2020 - Virtual Duration: 27 Jul 2020 → 31 Jul 2020 https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15525279/2020/16/S6 https://alz.confex.com/alz/20amsterdam/meetingapp.cgi/Home/0 |
