Blood lipid markers are associated with hippocampal viscoelastic properties and memory in humans

Age-related memory loss shares similar risk factors as cardiometabolic diseases including elevated serum triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The mechanisms linking these aberrant blood lipids to memory loss are...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism 2021-06, Vol.41 (6), p.1417-1427
Main Authors: Sanjana, Faria, Delgorio, Peyton L, Hiscox, Lucy V, DeConne, Theodore M, Hobson, Joshua C, Cohen, Matthew L, Johnson, Curtis L, Martens, Christopher R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Biomarkers - blood
Cross-Sectional Studies
Elasticity Imaging Techniques
Female
Hippocampus - metabolism
Humans
Lipids - blood
Male
Memory, Episodic
Middle Aged
Original
Young Adult
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Summary:Age-related memory loss shares similar risk factors as cardiometabolic diseases including elevated serum triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The mechanisms linking these aberrant blood lipids to memory loss are not completely understood but may be partially mediated by reduced integrity of the hippocampus (HC), the primary brain structure for encoding and recalling memories. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that blood lipid markers are independently associated with memory performance and HC viscoelasticity—a noninvasive measure of brain tissue microstructural integrity assessed by high-resolution magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Twenty-six individuals across the adult lifespan were recruited (14 M/12 F; mean age: 42 ± 15 y; age range: 22–78 y) and serum lipid profiles were related to episodic memory and HC viscoelasticity. All subjects were generally healthy without clinically abnormal blood lipids or memory loss. Episodic memory was negatively associated with the TG/HDL-C ratio. HC viscoelasticity was negatively associated with serum TGs and the TG/HDL-C ratio, independent of age and in the absence of associations with HC volume. These data, although cross-sectional, suggest that subtle differences in blood lipid profiles in healthy adults may contribute to a reduction in memory function and HC tissue integrity.
ISSN:0271-678X
1559-7016
DOI:10.1177/0271678X20968032