Validation of the Brain Health Index in the European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia cohort
Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior(2024)
Abstract
Background
Brain Health Index (BHI) assimilates various MRI sequences, giving a quantitative measure of brain health. To date, BHI validation has been cross-sectional and limited to selected populations. Further large-scale validation and assessment of temporal change is required to understand its clinical utility.
Aim
Assess 1)relationships between variables associated with cognitive decline and BHI 2)associations between BHI and measures of cognition and 3)longitudinal changes in BHI and relationship with cognitive function.
Methods
BHI computation involved Gaussian mixture-model cluster analysis of T1, T2, T2*, and T2 FLAIR MRI data from participants within the European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia (EPAD) cohort. Group differences (gender- and health-based) were evaluated using independent samples Welch's t-tests. Relationships between BHI, age and cognitive tests used linear regression. Longitudinal analysis (12/24 months) utilised mixed linear regression models to examine BHI changes, and paired BHI/cognition associations.
Results
Data from N=1496 predominantly Caucasian participants (50–88 years old, 43.32% male) were used. BHI scores were lower in those with diabetes (p<0.001, d=0.419), hypertension (p<0.001, d=0.375), hypercholesterolemia (p<0.001, d=0.193) and stroke (p<0.05, d=0.512). APOE was not significantly related to BHI scores. After correction for age, cross-sectional BHI scores were significantly associated with all measures of cognitive function in males, but only the Four Mountains Test (4MT) in females. Longitudinal change in BHI and cognition were not consistently related.
Conclusions
BHI is a valid marker of cognitive decline and relatively stable over 1-2 year follow-up periods. Further work should assess temporal changes over a longer duration and determine relationships between BHI and cognition in more diverse populations.
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Key words
Neuroimaging,structural MRI,aging,Brain Health Index,European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia,longitudinal
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