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Authors & Affiliations
Delia Gheorghe, Morgane Künzi, Sarah Bauermeister
Abstract
Multiple risk factors contribute to the rate of atrophy in brain aging. In large population studies, we have previously shown that adverse life history, mental and cardiovascular health impact brain structure and cognition in later life, in cross-sectional investigations. Here we investigate the impact of multiple psychosocial adversities on brain structure changes in a longitudinal design using the UK Biobank dataset. Imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) of grey matter and measures of white matter tract integrity were analysed from two waves of data (94%: 2-3 years difference). IDPs were corrected by regressing out demeaned values for head size/position during scanning, and relevant demographics. Subsequent statistical analyses on the effects of adversity on the brain were conducted while considering a multitude of other risk factors: cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory biomarkers, polygenic risk scores, medications, mental health. Preliminary results showed a significant increase in CSF volume, as well as a decrease in total grey and white matter (p<.001; N=2336, 55% female). Using corrected regressions with stepwise deletion, we found significant associations between volume changes in limbic structures and self-reported traumatic events. Cross-sectional associations at both waves were also found between childhood adversity and CSF volume, latent measures of mean diffusivity, cerebellar and parietal structures. Mental health, metabolic and cardiovascular factors were also retained predictors cross-sectionally. Understanding the impact of adversity on the brain, as well as its interaction with multiple biological mechanisms is crucial for our epidemiological understanding. Our preliminary results suggest that adverse experiences are associated with cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in brain structure.