Interactions between age, sex and visceral adipose tissue on brain ageing
Authors' conclusion
VAT volume is associated with poorer brain health in midlife and this relationship is greatest in men and those at younger ages.
Study context
- Population
- People at midlife in the UK Biobank with abdominal and brain MRI; mean age 63 years (SD 12), 53% femalecomplete data
- Participants
- 17,377 people
- Exposure
- Association of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume with brain structural measures
- Outcome
- Associations of VAT volume with TBV, GMV, white matter volume, WMHV and THV
Methodological detailspopulation-based cohort, UK Biobank, abdominal and brain MRI, regression modelling
- Population-based cohort
- UK Biobank
- Abdominal and brain MRI
- Regression modelling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Associations of VAT with brain volumes
- Greater VAT associated with lower total brain volume (TBV), grey matter volume (GMV) and total hippocampal volume (THV)
- P < .001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction between VAT and sex on TBV | ||
| β | −2.89 | −1.32 |
- Interaction between VAT and sex on TBV — Interaction VAT × sex on TBV; negative association greater in men than in women, similar findings for GMV
- P < .001
Interaction between VAT and age (but not sex) on white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV)
- Interaction VAT × age on WMHV
- P < 0.001
Adjustment for other cardiometabolic factors or physical activity
- Little change to the models
Original publication
Interactions between age, sex and visceral adipose tissue on brain ageing. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 20 June 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →