title: Cardio-metabolic risk factors and cortical thickness in a neurologically healthy male population: Results from the psychological, social and biological determinants of ill health (pSoBid) study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardio-metabolic risk factors have been associated with poor physical and mental health. Epidemiological studies have shown peripheral risk markers to be associated with poor cognitive functioning in normal healthy population and in disease. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between cardio-metabolic risk factors and cortical thickness in a neurologically healthy middle aged population-based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  T1-weighted MRI was used to create models of the cortex for calculation of regional cortical thickness in 40 adult males (average age = 50.96 years), selected from the pSoBid study. The relationship between cardio-vascular risk markers and cortical thickness across the whole brain, was examined using the general linear model. The relationship with various covariates of interest was explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipid fractions with greater triglyceride content (TAG, VLDL and LDL) were associated with greater cortical thickness pertaining to a number of regions in the brain. Greater C reactive protein (CRP) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) levels were associated with cortical thinning pertaining to perisylvian regions in the left hemisphere. Smoking status and education status were significant covariates in the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study adds to a small body of existing literature increasingly showing a relationship between cardio-metabolic risk markers and regional cortical thickness involving a number of regions in the brain in a neurologically normal middle aged sample. A focused investigation of factors determining the inter-individual variations in regional cortical thickness in the adult brain could provide further clarity in our understanding of the relationship between cardio-metabolic factors and cortical structures.
authors.affiliation: Sackler Institute of Psychobiological Research, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krishnadas
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: G David
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Batty
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Batty
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Deans
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McConnachie
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McGinty
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: Naveed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sattar
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Shiels
authors.forename: Yoga N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Velupillai
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Packard
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavanagh
keywords: Apo, apolipoprotien; BMI, body mass index; CIMT, carotid intima-media thickness; CRP, high sensitivity C-reactive protein; Cardiovascular risk; Cholesterol; Cortical thickness; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule-1; IL-6, interleukin-6; Inflammation; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; Metabolic risk; PCA, principal component analysis; SIMD, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation; TAG, triglycerides; pSoBid, psychological, social and biological determinants of ill health; tPA, tissue plasminogen activator; vWF, von Willebrand factor