Neck Circumference, Brain Imaging Measures, and Neuropsychological Testing Measures

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Aging Research

Background:

• Perivascular fat influences local vascularity.
• Neck fat correlates with carotid intimal thickness, a brain aging predictor.
• Neck circumference estimates neck fat, prompting investigation into its brain aging associations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate unique associations between neck circumference and brain aging outcomes.
• To compare neck circumference with waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) in relation to brain health.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 2082 Framingham Heart Study participants (53.5% women, mean age 60.9 years).
• Employed multivariable-adjusted regressions to assess cross-sectional associations of neck circumference with brain MRI and neuropsychological (NP) test measures.
• Included waist circumference and BMI as comparative exposure variables.

Main Results:

• A one standard deviation increase in neck circumference was linked to reduced total cerebral brain volume (β = -0.22, P = 0.0006) and frontal brain volume (β = -0.55, P < 0.0001).
• Similar associations were observed for waist circumference and BMI.
• No significant associations were found between neck circumference and NP test measures after full covariate adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Neck circumference did not show unique associations with brain MRI or NP measures.
• All measured adiposity indicators were associated with adverse brain MRI and NP outcomes.
• Findings suggest a generalized effect of overall adiposity on brain aging.