Profiles by sex of brain MRI and cognitive function in the framingham offspring study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether there are sex-specific associations between brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures and neuropsychologic (NP) test performance.


BACKGROUND
Differences in cardiovascular risk factors have been linked to decreased total cerebral brain volume and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Although brain morphology has been related to cognitive performance, few studies have addressed sex-specific effects in this relationship.


METHODS
Framingham Offspring who were stroke and dementia-free underwent a brain MRI scan and NP testing (n=2085; 978 men). Factor analysis identified 4 domain-specific NP factors. MRI participants were divided into 4 MRI subgroups based on measures of total cerebral brain volume and combinations of the presence of WMH and silent cerebral infarcts (> or =3 mm).


RESULTS
Overall, the relationship between MRI and NP measures was similar between the sexes. The exception was that only men showed a positive relationship between executive function and cerebrovascular disease defined as large WMH volume plus silent cerebral infarct. This finding was attributed only among men with Framingham Stroke Risk Profile scores >90th percentile range (P=0.0019).


CONCLUSIONS
Measures of brain atrophy and subclinical markers of vascular disease showed that sex does not significantly alter the relationship between MRI and NP, except among men and women who are at high risk for stroke; these men show poorer performance on executive function, whereas the women do not.
Albert
Mark
M
Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118-2526, USA.
Massaro
Joseph
J
DeCarli
Charles
C
Beiser
Alexa
A
Seshadri
Sudha
S
Wolf
Philip A
PA
Au
Rhoda
R
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics