Subclinical Cardiac Dysfunction Linked to Markers of Neurodegeneration
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 1, 2025 -- Subclinical cardiac dysfunction is associated with brain imaging markers of neurodegeneration, according to a study published online March 26 in Neurology.
Amber Yaqub, from Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues leveraged data from seven prospective, community-based cohorts across Europe and the United States to examine associations between cardiac function, clinical heart failure, and structural markers on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Data were included for 10,889 participants (mean age, 66.8 years).
The researchers found a consistent association for markers of systolic dysfunction with smaller total brain volume (TBV; e.g., adjusted standardized mean difference for moderate-to-severe dysfunction, −0.19). Associations were also seen for impaired relaxation and restrictive diastolic dysfunction with smaller TBV (e.g., for impaired relaxation, −0.08) and hippocampal volume (−0.18); results were similar for E/A-ratio. No consistent association was seen for systolic and diastolic dysfunction with volume of white matter hyperintensities. Overall, 3.4 percent of participants from five cohorts with available data had clinical heart failure, which was associated with smaller brain volume, especially in the hippocampus (−0.13).
"These results highlight the importance of preserving cardiac function for promoting brain health during aging and encourage further investigations into the complex interplay between cardiac and brain health," the authors write.
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2025
Read this next
Greater Neighborhood Disadvantage Tied to Inflammatory, Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- Greater neighborhood disadvantage is associated with increased inflammatory and Alzheimer disease (AD) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in older...
Body Fat Percentage Better Predictor of 15-Year Mortality Than BMI
TUESDAY, July 1, 2025 -- For young adults, body fat percentage is a better predictor of 15-year mortality risk than body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online...
Degree of Weight Loss Affects Tirzepatide-Linked Cardiometabolic Risk Improvement
TUESDAY, July 1, 2025 -- For adults with obesity or overweight, tirzepatide-linked improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors are associated with the degree of weight reduction...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.