Ps-bpp01-2: associations of arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic burden with brain structural changes among japanese men

Objective: To assess whether arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic burden are each independently associated with brain structural changes (i.e., volume and vascular damage) among healthy Japanese men. Design and method: Healthy Japanese men (n = 853) aged 46–83 years participated in the examination of the Shiga Epidemiological Study of Subclinical Atherosclerosis II (SESSA II), and underwent assessments of arterial stiffness using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and of atherosclerotic burden using coronary artery calcification (CAC) between 2010–2014. Of 853 men, 740 underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between 2012 and 2015, and brain volumes (i.e., total brain volume, gray matter, Alzheimer disease [AD] signature and prefrontal) and white matter lesion volume (WMLV, reflecting cerebral small vessel disease) were assessed. Results: We excluded 54 participants with history of stroke and myocardial infarction at SESSA II, leaving a final sample size of 686 for analyses. After multivariable adjustment including age and blood pressure (see footnote in Table), higher baPWV was associated with lower volumes of AD signature and of hippocampus volume (see Table). Higher CAC score was associated with greater WMLV (ml). Both baPWV and CAC were entered into a same model, higher baPWV was associated with lower volumes of AD signature, and higher CAC score was associated with greater WMLV. Conclusions: Among general Japanese men, higher arterial stiffness was associated with lower brain volumes related to cognition. Higher CAC score was associated with greater vascular damage. Arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic burden may each independently link to brain structural changes among healthy Japanese men. Keywords: Arterial stiffness; coronary artery calcification; brain volume; Alzheimer disease; atherosclerosis