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Characterization of a normal control group: are they healthy?
C J Aine1, L Sanfratello, J C Adair
1Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
Neuroimage
|September 25, 2013
Summary
Cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol impact brain health and memory even in younger adults. These factors affect brain anatomy and working memory performance in typical control groups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Previous research indicated white matter hyperintensities and cortical volume loss in elderly control groups correlate with memory deficits.
- Cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent in control groups and may influence cognitive function and brain structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cardiovascular risk factors and working memory performance in a control group.
- To determine if vascular risk factors explain variance in working memory tasks.
- To explore the impact of conjoint vascular risk factors on brain anatomy and function.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-five participants (aged 18-81) underwent working memory tasks, neuropsychological exams, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and blood tests.
- Repeated measures ANOVA and cluster analysis were used to analyze vascular risk measures and their relationship with cognitive performance.
- DTI assessed brain anatomy via fractional anisotropy (FA) values.
Main Results:
- Higher systolic blood pressure correlated with poorer spatial working memory accuracy and lower FA in brain regions.
- Higher total cholesterol levels were associated with improved verbal working memory accuracy.
- Individuals with the most risk factors (Risk Cluster Group 3) showed the worst spatial working memory, slowest reaction times, and lowest FA values.
Conclusions:
- Vascular risk factors are present across a wide age range in control groups and significantly affect brain anatomy and function.
- These findings challenge the definition of 'normative' brain circuitry and the use of control groups in neuroimaging studies.
- The study highlights the need to consider individual vascular health when interpreting neuroimaging data from control populations.
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