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Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

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Linking sarcopenia, brain structure and cognitive performance: a large-scale UK Biobank study.

Tiril P Gurholt¹, Miguel Germán Borda^2,3,4, Nadine Parker¹

¹Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo 0424, Norway.

Brain Communications

|March 21, 2024

Summary

Age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) is linked to poorer brain health and cognitive function. Sensorimotor brain regions appear to mediate this connection, offering insights into dementia prevention.

Keywords:

T1-weighted MRI degenerative conditions ectopic fat mediator skeletal muscle

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Human Vastus Lateralis Skeletal Muscle Biopsy Using the Weil-Blakesley Conchotome

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Published on: March 4, 2016

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Gerontology
Muscle Physiology

Background:

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and function, is associated with impaired brain health, including cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
The precise relationships between sarcopenic traits, brain structure, and cognitive performance remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the associations between sarcopenic traits (probable sarcopenia and muscle fat infiltration) and brain structure (cortical thickness, white matter integrity, brain volumes).
To examine the relationship between sarcopenic traits and cognitive performance.
To determine if brain structure mediates the link between sarcopenic traits and cognitive function.

Main Methods:

Utilized UK Biobank data from 33,709 participants (aged 44-82 years) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive test data.
Assessed sarcopenia based on handgrip strength and thigh muscle fat infiltration.
Employed multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling to analyze associations and mediation effects, adjusting for confounders.

Main Results:

Sarcopenic traits were significantly associated with lower cognitive performance and altered brain MRI measures.
Probable sarcopenia correlated with reduced white matter fractional anisotropy, brain volumes, and cortical thickness, particularly in sensorimotor regions.
Higher thigh muscle fat infiltration showed associations with thinner cortex, lower white matter integrity, and reduced brain volumes.

Conclusions:

Significant associations exist between sarcopenic traits, brain structure, and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults.
Sensorimotor brain regions mediate the relationship between sarcopenic traits and cognitive function.
Findings suggest potential implications for dementia development and prevention strategies targeting sarcopenia.