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Lu Y, Pike JR, Hoogeveen R, Walker K, Raffield L, Selvin E, Avery C, Engel S, Mielke MM, Garcia T, Heiss G, Palta P. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Longitudinal Change in Imaging and Plasma Biomarkers of Alzheimer Disease and Vascular Pathology. Neurology 2024; 102:e209203. [PMID: 38471046 PMCID: PMC11033987 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000209203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Prospective measures of plasma and cerebral MRI biomarkers of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular neuropathology provide an opportunity to investigate possible mechanisms linking liver disease and dementia. We aimed to quantify the association of midlife nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with change in plasma and brain MRI biomarkers of AD and vascular neuropathology. METHODS We included participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study with brain MRI measurements of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume and temporal-parietal lobe cortical thickness meta region of interest (ROI) at up to 2 different visits, in 2011-13 and 2016-19, and plasma biomarkers of β-amyloid (Aβ)42:40, phosphorylated tau at threonine 181, and neurofilament light (NfL) were measured up to 3 times in 1993-95, 2011-13, and 2016-19. NAFLD was categorized using the fatty liver index in 1990-92. Multivariate linear regression was performed for associations between midlife NAFLD and change in plasma and brain MRI biomarkers of AD and vascular neuropathology. The primary models adjusted for demographics, Apolipoprotein E, alcohol use, and kidney function. RESULTS Among 1,706 participants (mean age 56 years, 62% female, 28% Black), midlife NAFLD vs no NAFLD was associated with greater late-life WMH volume (difference per SD 0.19, 95% CI 0.06-0.31) and faster late-life WMH increase over 6 years (difference in annual change, SD 0.28, 95% CI 0.05-0.51), suggesting accumulating vascular pathology. Midlife NAFLD vs no NAFLD was also associated with AD biomarkers in midlife (lower Aβ42:40 [SD -0.21, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.04] measured in 1993-95) and late life (lower Aβ42:40 [SD -0.13, 95% CI -0.23 to -0.03] and lower temporal-parietal lobe cortical thickness meta ROI [SD -0.16, 95% CI -0.28 to -0.05] measured in 2011-13). Although midlife NfL was lower in individuals with vs without midlife NAFLD, those with NAFLD exhibited a faster rate of NfL increase that accelerated over time. DISCUSSION Midlife NAFLD shows associations with AD and accumulating vascular pathology, revealing potential pathways linking liver function to dementia. Plasma biomarkers of neuropathology and neuronal injury may serve as easily measurable and dynamic indicators for monitoring the impacts of impaired liver function on brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Lu
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - James R Pike
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Ron Hoogeveen
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Keenan Walker
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Laura Raffield
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Elizabeth Selvin
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Christy Avery
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Stephanie Engel
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Michelle M Mielke
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Tanya Garcia
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Gerardo Heiss
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Priya Palta
- From the Departments of Epidemiology (Y.L., C.A., S.E., G.H.) and Biostatistics (T.G.), Gillings School of Global Public Health and Departments of Genetics (L.R.) and Neurology (P.P.), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology (J.R.P., E.S.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Medicine (R.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (K.W.), National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; and Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (M.M.M.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
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