Gray matter structural networks are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy older adults.

ABSTRACT: While recent 'big data' analyses discovered structural brain networks that alter with age and relate to cognitive decline, identifying modifiable factors that prevent these changes remains a major challenge. We therefore aimed to determine the effects of common cardiovascular risk factors on vulnerable gray matter (GM) networks in a large and well-characterized population-based cohort. In 616 healthy elderly (258 women, 60-80 years) of the LIFE-Adult-Study, we assessed the effects of obesity, smoking, blood pressure, markers of glucose and lipid metabolism as well as physical activity on major GM-networks derived using linked independent component analysis. Age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, white matter hyperintensities, education and depression were considered as confounders. Results show

SUBMITTER: Kharabian Masouleh S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5951018 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature