Cardiovascular and metabolic health is associated with functional brain connectivity in middle-aged and older adults: Results from the Human Connectome Project-Aging study

Lactylation modification in cardio-cerebral diseases: A state-of-the-art review

Cardio-cerebral diseases (CCDs), encompassing conditions such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, et al., represent a significant threat to human health and well-being. These diseases are often characterized by metabolic abnormalities and remodeling in the process of pathology. Glycolysis and hypoxia-induced lactate accumulation play critical roles in cellular energy dynamics and metabolic imbalances in CCDs. Lactylation, a post-translational modification driven by excessive lactate accumulation, occurs in both histone and non-histone proteins. It has been implicated in regulating protein function across various pathological processes in CCDs, including inflammation, angiogenesis, lipid metabolism dysregulation, and fibrosis. Targeting key proteins involved in lactylation, as well as the enzymes regulating this modification, holds promise as a therapeutic strategy to modulate disease progression by addressing these pathological mechanisms. This review provides a holistic picture of the types of lactylation and the associated modifying enzymes, highlights the roles of lactylation in different pathological processes, and synthesizes the latest clinical evidence and preclinical studies in a comprehensive view. We aim to emphasize the potential of lactylation as an innovative therapeutic target for preventing and treating CCD-related conditions.

Sex-Differential Markers of Psychiatric Risk and Treatment Response Based on Premature Aging of Functional Brain Network Dynamics and Peripheral Physiology

BACKGROUND

Aging is a multilevel process of gradual decline that predicts morbidity and mortality. Independent investigations have implicated senescence of brain and peripheral physiology in psychiatric risk, but it is unclear whether these effects stem from unique or shared mechanisms.

METHODS

To address this question, we analyzed clinical, blood chemistry, and resting-state functional neuroimaging data in a healthy aging cohort (n = 427; ages 36-100 years) and 2 disorder-specific samples including patients with early psychosis (100 patients, 16-35 years) and major depressive disorder (MDD) (104 patients, 20-76 years).

RESULTS

We identified sex-dependent coupling between blood chemistry markers of metabolic senescence (i.e., homeostatic dysregulation), functional brain network aging, and psychiatric risk. In females, premature aging of frontoparietal and somatomotor networks was linked to greater homeostatic dysregulation. It also predicted the severity and treatment resistance of mood symptoms (depression/anxiety [all 3 samples], anhedonia [MDD]) and social withdrawal/behavioral inhibition (avoidant personality disorder [healthy aging], negative symptoms [early psychosis]). In males, premature aging of the default mode, cingulo-opercular, and visual networks was linked to reduced homeostatic dysregulation and predicted the severity and treatment resistance of symptoms relevant to hostility/aggression (antisocial personality disorder [healthy aging], mania/positive symptoms [early psychosis]), impaired thought processes (early psychosis, MDD), and somatic problems (healthy aging, MDD).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings identify sexually dimorphic relationships between brain dynamics, peripheral physiology, and risk for psychiatric illness, suggesting that the specificity of putative risk biomarkers and precision therapeutics may be improved by considering sex and other relevant personal characteristics.

MRI Assessment of Cerebral White Matter Microvascular Hemodynamics Across the Adult Lifespan

BACKGROUND

Changes in cerebral hemodynamics with aging are important for understanding age-related variation in neuronal health. While many prior studies have focused on gray matter, less is known regarding white matter due in part to measurement challenges related to the lower vascular density in white matter.

PURPOSE

To investigate the impact of age and sex on white matter hemodynamics in a Human Connectome Project in Aging (HCP-A) cohort using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS).

STUDY TYPE

Retrospective cross-sectional.

POPULATION

Six hundred seventy-eight typically aging individuals (381 female), aged 36-100 years.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

Multi-delay pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (ASL) and diffusion-weighted pulsed-gradient spin-echo echo planar imaging sequences at 3.0 T.

ASSESSMENT

A skeleton of mean fractional anisotropy (FA) was produced using TBSS. This skeleton was used to project ASL-derived cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial transit time (ATT) measures onto white matter tracts.

STATISTICAL TESTS

General linear models were applied to white matter FA, CBF, and ATT maps, while covarying for age and sex. Threshold-free cluster enhancement multiple comparisons correction was performed for the effects of age and sex, thresholded at PFWE < 0.05. CBF, ATT, and FA were compared between sex for each tract using analysis of covariance, with multiple comparisons correction for the number of tracts at PFDR < 0.05.

RESULTS

Significantly lower white matter CBF and significantly prolonged white matter ATTs were associated with older age. These effects were widespread across tracts for ATT. Significant (PFDR < 0.05) sex differences in ATT were observed across all tracts, and significant sex differences in CBF were observed in all tracts except the bilateral uncinate fasciculus. Females demonstrated significantly higher CBF compared to males across the lifespan. Few tracts demonstrated significant sex differences in FA.

DATA CONCLUSION

This study identified significant sex- and age-associated differences in white matter hemodynamics across tracts.

EVIDENCE LEVEL

3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.