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Role of Cardiovascular Risk in Associations of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with Longitudinal Brain and Cognitive Trajectories in Older Adults.

Background: Higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been associated with better neurocognitive outcomes. BDNF is present in cardiovascular tissue, and some evidence suggests it may benefit cardiovascular function. The current study assessed whether there is a mediating and/or...

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Published in:Experimental Aging Research Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 505 - 526
Main Authors: Shearon, Jennifer, Jackson, Joshua, Head, Denise
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul-Sep2025
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        0361073X
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      dt: Jul-Sep2025
      vid: 51
      iid: 4
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        186012743
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        10.1080/0361073X.2024.2423593
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        atl: Role of Cardiovascular Risk in Associations of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with Longitudinal Brain and Cognitive Trajectories in Older Adults.
      aug:
        au:
          Shearon, Jennifer
          Jackson, Joshua
          Head, Denise
        affil: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Cardiovascular Risk Factors Prevention and Control
          Brain Physiopathology
          Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Blood
          Cognition Evaluation
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Funding Source
          Magnetic Resonance Imaging
          Brain Radiography
          Blood Pressure In Old Age
          Prospective Studies
          Neuroradiography Methods
          Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis
          Path Analysis
          Linear Regression
          Scales
          Pulse
          White Matter Physiopathology
          Hippocampus Physiopathology
          Cerebral Cortex Physiopathology
          Executive Function Evaluation
          Memory Evaluation
          Exploratory Research
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: Higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been associated with better neurocognitive outcomes. BDNF is present in cardiovascular tissue, and some evidence suggests it may benefit cardiovascular function. The current study assessed whether there is a mediating and/or moderating role of cardiovascular health in the relationship between BDNF and brain and cognitive outcomes. Method: We examined longitudinal data from 397 older adults (aged 54–89;164 females, 233 males) enrolled in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative with available plasma BDNF, medical, neuroimaging, and cognitive assessments. We used path analysis and linear regression to estimate the mediating and moderating roles of two measures of cardiovascular health, the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and pulse pressure, in the relationships between BDNF and longitudinal changes in brain structure (white matter hyperintensity volume, hippocampal volume, and primary visual cortex volume) and cognitive function (executive function, episodic memory, and language). Results: There was no significant association of plasma BDNF with FRS or pulse pressure (ps > 0.31), precluding mediation. There were no robust associations between BDNF and longitudinal change in any brain structural or cognitive measures (ps >.12). Higher FRS was significantly associated with greater increases in WMH volume (ps <.01). FRS and pulse pressure were not associated with any other brain structural or cognitive outcomes (ps >.07). Conclusion: These results suggest that cardiovascular health may not play an important role in the influence of BDNF on neurocognitive health in older adults.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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