%A Ferguson,Ian T.
%A Elbejjani,Martine
%A Sabayan,Behnam
%A Jacobs,David R.
%A Meirelles,Osorio
%A Sanchez,Otto A.
%A Tracy,Russell
%A Bryan,Nick
%A Launer,Lenore J.
%D 2018
%J Frontiers in Neurology
%C
%F
%G English
%K NT-ProBNP,N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide,MRI,brain volume,Cognitive Function,middle age,Heart-brain axis
%Q
%R 10.3389/fneur.2018.00307
%W
%L
%M
%P
%7
%8 2018-May-07
%9 Original Research
%#
%! NT-proBNP and MRI volume
%*
%<
%T N-Terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Associations With Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Features in Middle Age: The CARDIA Brain MRI Study
%U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2018.00307
%V 9
%0 JOURNAL ARTICLE
%@ 1664-2295
%X ObjectiveAs part of research on the heart–brain axis, we investigated the association of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with brain structure and function in a community-based cohort of middle-aged adults from the Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging sub-study of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.Approach and resultsIn a cohort of 634 community-dwelling adults with a mean (range) age of 50.4 (46–52) years, we examined the cross-sectional association of NT-proBNP to total, gray (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes, abnormal WM load and WM integrity, and to cognitive function tests [the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), the Stroop test, and the Rey Auditory–Verbal Learning Test]. These associations were examined using linear regression models adjusted for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac output. Higher NT-proBNP concentration was significantly associated with smaller GM volume (β = −3.44; 95% CI = −5.32, −0.53; p = 0.003), even after additionally adjusting for cardiac output (β = −2.93; 95% CI = −5.32, −0.53; p = 0.017). Higher NT-proBNP levels were also associated with lower DSST scores. NT-proBNP was not related to WM volume, WM integrity, or abnormal WM load.ConclusionIn this middle-aged cohort, subclinical levels of NT-proBNP were related to brain function and specifically to GM and not WM measures, extending similar findings in older cohorts. Further research is warranted into biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction as a target for early markers of a brain at risk.