Association Between Nerve Growth Factor and Clinical Stroke and Covert Brain Infarcts: The FHS

Key Points

• To examine the relationship between serum levels of nerve growth factor and the risk of stroke and brain infarcts in late midlife.
• Observational study design using data from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS).
• Assessment of serum nerve growth factor levels in participants.
• Analysis of stroke incidence and covert brain infarcts over time.
• Higher levels of serum nerve growth factor were associated with a reduced risk of clinically overt stroke.
• Serum NGF levels correlated with a lower occurrence of covert brain infarcts, indicating a protective effect.