BACKGROUND Limited information exists regarding the association between midlife lipid levels and late-life total and regional brain volumes. METHODS We studied 1,872 participants in the longitudinal community-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study. Serum lipid levels were measured in 1987-1989 (mean age, 53 ± 5 years). Participants underwent 3T brain MRI scans in 2011-2013. Brain volumes were measured using FreeSurfer image analysis software. Linear regression models were used to assess the associations between serum lipids and brain volumes modeled in standard deviation (SD) units, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS In adjusted analyses, one SD higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels were associated with larger total brain volumes (β 0.033, 95% CI 0.006-0.060) as well as larger volumes of the temporal (β 0.038, 95% CI 0.003-0.074) and parietal lobes (β 0.044, 95% CI 0.009-0.07) and Alzheimer disease-related region (β 0.048, 95% CI 0.048-0.085). Higher triglyceride levels were associated with smaller total brain volumes (β -0.033, 95% CI -0.060, -0.007). The associations between LDL levels and brain volumes were modified by age (P for interaction <0.001), with higher LDL levels associated with larger total and regional brain volumes only among adults >53 years at baseline, and were attenuated after application of weights to account for informative attrition, although associations with the parietal and Alzheimer's disease-related region remained significant. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was not associated with brain volumes. CONCLUSION Higher LDL levels in late midlife were associated with larger brain volumes later in life, while higher triglyceride levels were associated with smaller brain volumes. These associations were driven by adults >53 years at baseline.

中文翻译：

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中年血脂水平与晚年脑容量的关联：社区神经认知研究中的动脉粥样硬化风险（ARIC-NCS）


背景关于中年脂质水平与晚年总脑容量和局部脑容量之间的关联，存在有限的信息。方法 我们研究了基于社区的纵向动脉粥样硬化风险社区神经认知研究的 1,872 名参与者。 1987-1989 年测量血清脂质水平（平均年龄，53 ± 5 岁）。参与者在 2011 年至 2013 年接受了 3T 脑部 MRI 扫描。使用 FreeSurfer 图像分析软件测量脑体积。线性回归模型用于评估以标准差（SD）单位建模的血清脂质和脑体积之间的关联，并调整潜在的混杂因素。结果 在调整后的分析中，低密度脂蛋白胆固醇 (LDL) 水平每升高一个 SD，就与较大的总脑体积（β 0.033，95% CI 0.006-0.060）以及较大的颞叶体积（β 0.038，95% CI）相关。 0.003-0.074）和顶叶（β 0.044，95% CI 0.009-0.07）和阿尔茨海默病相关区域（β 0.048，95% CI 0.048-0.085）。较高的甘油三酯水平与较小的总脑容量相关（β -0.033，95% CI -0.060，-0.007）。 LDL水尽管与顶叶和阿尔茨海默病相关区域的关联仍然很重要，但要考虑到信息消耗。高密度脂蛋白胆固醇与脑容量无关。结论 中年后期较高的 LDL 水平与晚年较大的脑容量相关，而较高的甘油三酯水平则与较小的脑容量相关。 这些关联是由基线 >53 岁的成年人驱动的。