Approved Research

Gene-environment interactions in heart-brain connection

Lay summary

The incidence of cardiovascular disease continues to rise with accelerated aging and the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles. A growing body of research suggests that patients with cardiovascular disease are at significantly increased risk of developing brain disease and cognitive impairment. Genetic studies suggested a common genetic basis for the heart-brain connection, and shared environmental risk factors such as alcohol and smoking may also underlie the heart-brain connection. however, the effects of gene-environment interactions on heart-brain connection remain unclear. This project aims to assess how genetic and environmental factors and their interactions affect brain health in patients with cardiovascular disease, such as brain diseases, brain MRI, cognitive function and behaviors; In addition, construct a risk model based on genetic and environmental factors, CMR and brain MRI in order to early precise identify susceptible populations with brain disease in patients with cardiovascular disease. The project is expected to last 3 years. Genetic variants and environment risk factors associated with the heart-brain connection will facilitate early identification of high-risk individuals and early intervention of risk factors as well as the development of targeted drugs to improve brain health and clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease.