Tiina Laatikainen, Finland
National Institute for Health and Welfare Chronic Disease Prevention UnitAuthor Of 1 Presentation
27-HYDROXYCHOLESTEROL, COGNITION AND BRAIN IMAGING MARKERS IN THE FINGER RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Abstract
Aims
27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OH) is the main circulating oxysterol in humans and the potential missing link between peripheral hypercholesterolemia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current project aims at elucidating 1) Whether the 2-year multidomain lifestyle/vascular intervention FINGER (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability) had an impact on 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OH) levels; and 2) Whether change in 27-OH during the intervention was related to change in cognition and dementia-related neuroimaging markers.
Methods
The 2-year FINGER study included older individuals (60-77 years) at increased risk for dementia but without dementia or substantial cognitive impairment from the general population. Participants were randomized to a multidomain intervention (diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk management) or control group (general health advice) in 1:1 ratio. This FINGER exploratory sub-study included 47 participants with measures of 27-OH, cognition, brain MRI, brain FDG- and PiB-PET. Linear regression models were used to assess cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between 27-OH, cognition and neuroimaging markers, considering several potential confounders/intervention effect modifiers.
Results
27-OH reduction during the intervention was associated with improvement in cognition. The intervention reduced 27-OH particularly in individuals with the highest 27-OH levels, and younger age. At baseline higher 27-OH was associated with lower total gray matter and hippocampal volume, and lower cognitive scores. These associations were unaffected by total cholesterol levels. While sex seemed to influence associations at baseline, it did not affect longitudinal associations.
Conclusions
27-OH appears to be a marker not only for dementia/AD risk, but also for monitoring the effects of preventive interventions on cholesterol metabolism.