Sex-dependent effects of cardiometabolic health and APOE4 on brain age: A longitudinal cohort study

Sivaniya Subramaniapillai (Lead Author), Louise S. Schindler, Paul Redmond, Mark E Bastin, Joanne M. Wardlaw, Maria C Valdés Hernández, Susana Muñoz Maniega, Benjamin Aribisala, Lars T Westlye, William Coath, James Groves, David M. Cash, Josephine Barnes, Sarah-Naomi James, Carole H. Sudre, Frederik Barkhof, Marcus Richards, Janie Corley, Tom Russ, Simon R. CoxJonathan M Schott, James H. Cole, Ann-Marie G. de Lange

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Background and Objectives: The aging population is growing faster than all other demographicstrata. With older age comes a greater risk of health conditions such as obesity and high blood pressure(BP). These cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRs) exhibit prominent sex differences in midlife and aging,yet their influence on brain health in females versus males remains largely unexplored. In this study, weinvestigated sex differences in relationships between BP, body mass index (BMI), and brain age over time,and tested for interactions with apolipoprotein E-ϵ4 genotype (APOE4), a known genetic risk factor forAlzheimer's disease. Methods: The sample included participants from two UK-based longitudinal birthcohorts, the Lothian Birth Cohort (1936) and Insight 46 (1946). Participants with MRI data from at leastone timepoint were included to evaluate sex differences in associations between CMRs and brain age. Theopen-access software package brainageR 2.1 was used to estimate brain age for each participant. Linearmixed effects models were used to assess the relationships between brain age, BMI, BP, and APOE4status (i.e., carrier vs. non-carrier) in males and females over time. Results: The combined samplecomprised 1120 participants (48% female) with mean age (SD) at the timepoint 1 assessment = 73 (0.72)years in the Lothian Birth Cohort and 71 (0.68) years in Insight 46. Approximately 30% of participantswere APOE4 carriers. Higher systolic and diastolic BP was significantly associated with older brain age infemales only (β = 0.43-0.56, p < 0.05). Among males, higher BMI was associated with older brain ageacross timepoints and APOE4 groups (β = 0.72-0.77, p < 0.05). In females, higher BMI was linked toolder brain age among APOE4 non-carriers (β = 0.68-0.99, p < 0.05), while higher BMI was linked toyounger brain age among carriers, particularly at the last timepoint (β = -1.75, p < 0.05). Discussion: Thisstudy indicates sex and time-dependent relationships between CMRs, APOE4 status, and brain age. Ourfindings highlight the necessity of sex-stratified analyses to elucidate the role of CMRs in individualagingtrajectories, providing a basis for developing personalized preventive interventions.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere209744
JournalNeurology
Volume103
Issue number6
Early online date22 Aug 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Sept 2024

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • cardiometabolic risk
  • sex differences
  • brain age
  • APOE4 risk
  • longitudinal

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