Cognitive decline poses a significant risk associated with aging. This decline often accompanies aging and can be exacerbated by several factors such as genetic predisposition, lifestyle choices and underlying health condition.
Neuroimaging is an evolving field that provides insights into the atrophy of anatomical structures and microstructural features of the brain associated with aging. One such feature is white matter hyperintensities, which are non-specific lesions visible on T2 FLAIR images. Their presence increases the risk of dementia and stroke. Other examples of structural damage detectable on MRI scans include impaired water diffusivity and atrophy of the brain and hippocampus. These structural indicators of brain damage are often exacerbated by cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity.
Chronic obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline. Advanced biological techniques such as proteomics and metabolomics provide detailed information about the proteome and metabolome, respectively. One well-known biomarker for predicting dementia is amyloid beta protein, associated with Alzheimer’s disease, which can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).Since both CSF analysis and imaging tests are not used for regular screening, it is crucial to continue research to understand the mechanisms underlying cognitive decline and to develop non-invasive methods for identifying individuals at risk.
Goal: Understanding the interconnection between cardiometabolic factors, -omics data and asymptomatic brain damage
Hypothesis: preclinical brain damage is related to metabolic disorders, is preventable and might be the beginning of the development of cognitive disorders
Significance:
Understanding associations could offer insights into the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in metabolic or cardiovascular disorders and inform targeted interventions for early prevention.