%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.