Plasma lipids and cerebral small vessel disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiovascular Research
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a significant contributor to stroke and dementia.
• MRI markers like white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) and lacunes are crucial for assessing CSVD.
• Lipid fractions are potential modifiable risk factors for cerebrovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cross-sectional association between lipid fractions and MRI-assessed CSVD markers.
• To determine if triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol correlate with WMHV and lacunes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 2,608 participants in the 3C-Dijon and EVA population-based cohorts.
• Assessed lipid profiles (triglycerides, LDL, HDL) and MRI markers (WMHV, lacunes).
• Performed meta-analysis adjusted for age and sex, with further adjustments for vascular risk factors and inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

• Elevated triglycerides showed a significant association with increased WMHV and a higher frequency of lacunes.
• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed a trend towards association with decreased CSVD markers.
• Associations remained significant after adjusting for other risk factors and were observed in participants on and not on lipid-lowering drugs.

Conclusions:

• Increasing triglyceride levels are associated with MRI markers of CSVD in older adults.
• Other lipid fractions, such as LDL and HDL cholesterol, did not show a significant association with CSVD markers in this study.
• These findings suggest triglycerides as a potential target for interventions aimed at reducing CSVD burden.