Journal Article

An examination of the relationship among plasma brain derived neurotropic factor, peripheral vascular function, and body composition with cognition in midlife African Americans/Black individuals

Nelson, Amy R, Keller, Joshua L, Saiyasit, Napatsorn, Traylor, Miranda K, Hill, Benjamin D, Bauman, Allison J, Frizell, Carl A

2022

Overview

African American/Black individuals have been excluded from several lines of prominent neuroscience research, despite exhibiting disproportionately higher risk factors associated with the onset and magnitude of neurodegeneration. Therefore, the objective of the current investigation was to examine potential relationships among brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), peripheral vascular function, and body composition with cognition in a sample of midlife, African American/Black individuals. Midlife adults (Men: n=3, 60 ± 4 yr; Women: n=9, 58 ± 5yr) were invited to complete two baseline visits separated by four weeks. Peripheral vascular function was determined by venous occlusion plethysmography, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry can was used to determine body composition, and plasma was collected to quantify BDNF levels. The CNS Vital Signs computer-based test was used to provide scores on numerous cognitive domains. The principal results included that complex attention (r = 0.629) and processing speed (r = 0.734) were significantly (p 0.05) relationship between any vascular measure and any cognitive domain or BDNF value. Secondary findings included the relationship between lean mass and peak hyperemia (r = 0.758) as well as total hyperemia (r = 0.855). The major conclusion derived from these results was that there is rationale for future clinical trials to use interventions targeting increasing BDNF to potentially improve cognition. Additionally, these results strongly suggest that clinicians aiming to improve cognitive health via improvements in the known risk factor of vascular function should consider interventions capable of promoting the size and function of skeletal muscle, especially in the African American/Black population.

• Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
• Subject: African Americans / Alzheimer's disease / Body composition / Brain-derived neurotrophic factor / Cerebral blood flow / Clinical trials / Cognition & reasoning / Cognitive ability / Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry / Hyperemia / Investigations / Ischemia / Nervous system / Neurodegeneration / Risk factors / Skeletal muscle