Lower cardiac output is a risk factor for faster cerebral atrophy over a 11‐year follow‐up period in APOE‐ ε4 carriers
Elizabeth E. Moore, Panpan Zhang, Omair A. Khan, Dandan Liu, Deepak K. Gupta, Kimberly R. Pechman, Katherine A. Gifford, Bennett A. Landman, Timothy J. Hohman, Angela L. JeffersonAbstract
INTRODUCTION
Subclinical lower cardiac output (volume of blood pumped per minute) cross‐sectionally relates to smaller cerebral gray matter volumes in older adults. This study relates cardiac output to longitudinal gray matter volumes among middle‐aged and older adults over an 11‐year period.
METHODS
Linear regression (cross‐sectional) and mixed effects (longitudinal) models related baseline cardiac output to gray matter volume trajectory, adjusting for demographic factors. Secondary models tested cardiac output × apolipoprotein E ( APOE) ‐ε4 status interactions.
RESULTS
Lower cardiac output related to smaller brain volumes ( p ‐values < 0.04) in APOE ‐ε4 positive participants only. In longitudinal models, baseline cardiac output interacted with APOE ‐ε4 status ( p = 0.006). Lower baseline cardiac output related to greater increase in inferior lateral ventricle volume over time in APOE ‐ε4 carriers ( p = 0.01) only.
DISCUSSION
Results suggest among APOE ‐ε4 carriers, subclinical cardiac dysfunction relates to greater neurodegeneration cross‐sectionally and longitudinally. However, results must be interpreted with caution and replicated.