Key result
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was associated with lower total tissue volume and gray matter cerebral blood flow (P<0.04), though the association was attenuated by BMI and VAT.
Why the study?
Is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated with reduced total tissue volume and gray matter cerebral blood flow in middle-aged adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=505)
Is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated with reduced total tissue volume and gray matter cerebral blood flow in middle-aged adults?
p-value: p=<0.04
NAFLD is associated with early brain structural and perfusion changes, though this relationship is largely attenuated by BMI and visceral adiposity.
NAFLD-linked brain volume and perfusion reductions may reflect adiposity; leaves open independent effects in cross-sectional data.
OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and measures of brain health in a population-based sample of adults. METHODS: Participants from the CARDIA study (Y25 exam; age 43-55 years) with concurrent computed tomography quantification of liver fat, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and brain magnetic resonance (MR) images were included (n = 505). NAFLD was identified after exclusion of other causes of liver fat. Total tissue volume (TTV) and gray matter cerebral blood flow (GM-CBF) were estimated using 3T brain MR images. RESULTS: NAFLD prevalence was 18%. NAFLD was associated with lower TTV and GM-CBF after adjusting for intracranial volume, demographics, and health behaviors (P < 0.04 for all). In models with additional adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, the association of NAFLD with GM-CBF remained significant (P = 0.04) but was attenuated after adjustment for VAT (P = 0.06) and eliminated with BMI (P = 0.20). NAFLD was not associated with TTV after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors (P = 0.10) or additional adjustment for VAT (P = 0.14) or BMI (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is negatively associated with early brain health as assessed by MR measures of structure (TTV) and perfusion (GM-CBF). BMI and VAT attenuated this relationship, providing insight into the potential metabolic role of liver fat in brain health and disease.
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VanWagner et al. (2017) conducted a cross-sectional in Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (n=505). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) vs. Without NAFLD was evaluated on Total tissue volume (TTV) and gray matter cerebral blood flow (GM-CBF) (p=<0.04). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was associated with lower total tissue volume and gray matter cerebral blood flow (P<0.04), though the association was attenuated by BMI and VAT.
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