Cardiometabolic state links neurovascular burden with brain structure and function: Evidence from EEG and MRI
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Aging affects brain structure and function alongside metabolic and vascular processes leading to energetic impairments. While local neurometabolic dysfunction in aging is well-documented, the influence of systemic cardiometabolic and vascular markers on brain structure and function remains less understood. We examine the link between cardiometabolic dysfunction (measured by an allostatic load index) and neurovascular burden (measured by white matter hyperintensities), and their associations with brain changes, including ventricular and hippocampal volume, as well as EEG activity, across the adult lifesplan. Analyzing data from 196 healthy individuals across ages (20-75 years), we found a significant positive correlation between allostatic load index and white-matter hyperintensities, irrespective of age. White matter hyperintensities are also positively linked with ventricular enlargement, but not hippocampal atrophy. The allostatic load index mediated the relationship between white-matter hyperintensities and ventricular volume. Regarding brain function, changes in the spectral aperiodic exponent but not periodic alpha power were linked to white matter hyperintensities and the allostatic load index. The allostatic load index also mediated the relationship between spectral aperiodic exponent and white matter hyperintensities. Thus, findings suggest that the cardiometabolic state, as measured by the allostatic load index, plays a crucial role in brain health in aging, particularly influencing ventricular enlargement and increased aperiodic activity.
Source: NeuroImage
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,540
Funders: Alzheimer's Association, Global Brain Health Institute, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico, Fondo de Financiamiento de Centros de Investigación en Áreas Prioritarias
Awards: G103627852, G1080512434, Multi-partner Consortium for Dementia Research in Latin America, G1474273530, G1581799926, EL ROL DE LOS DETERMINANTES SOCIALES DE LA SALUD EN LAS HABILIDADES SOCIOEMOCIONALES EN CONTEXTOS SOCIALMENTE VULNERABLES UNA APROXIMACION DESDE LA NEUROCIENCIA SOCIAL UTILIZANDO EEG MOVIL, NEUROVASCULAR PATHWAYS IN AGING AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES (ND): INTEGRATING CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND BRAIN FUNCTION, G1919018801, G1968784004, G2118524674, FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY OF LACTATE IN AGING ACROSS AROUSAL AND COGNITIVE DEMAND, MACHINE LEARNING FOR MENTAL HEALTH NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND APPLICATIONS USING MULTIMODAL DATA, G2822108074, G2852411755, G3628792472, G371657172, G3746078142, CENTRO DE GEROCIENCIA SALUD MENTAL Y METABOLISMO (GERO), G4113034044, G4196383601, G4216404362, G4223294817, G4914364266, G4921574523, G497235149, G5032928781, G5163463781, G546164382, G552479169, G61846566, G6222057742, G6318961629, SENSITIVE NEUROCOGNITIVE MARKERS OF NEURODEGENERATION A MULTI-FEATURE FRAMEWORK, G7574155280, NATURAL SPEECH MARKERS OF NEURODEGENERATION AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH FOR DISEASE DISCRIMINATION AND SYMPTOM TRACKING, MAPPING AND MODELING THE HEALTHY AND PATHOLOGICAL AGING TRAJECTORIES OF THE HUMAN BRAIN, G8813602246, G883642430, US-South American Initiative for Genetic-Neural-Behavioral Interactions in Human Neurodegenerative Research
OpenAlex ID: W4411011258