We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBETECH PUBLISHING LLC

Download Mobile App




Higher Levels of Heart Disease Protein Associated with Early-Stage Brain Damage

By Andrew Deutsch
Posted on 13 Dec 2016
Print article
Image: The structural MR imaging markers of sub-clinical brain damage (Photo courtesy of RSNA).
Image: The structural MR imaging markers of sub-clinical brain damage (Photo courtesy of RSNA).
The results of a large-scale study have shown that blood serum levels of a cardiac wall stress protein, NT-proBNP (N-terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), are linked to brain damage as well.

The study group consisted of 2,397 middle-aged and elderly people, from a suburb in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. None of the people had dementia, or a clinical diagnosis of heart disease. Previous studies indicated a link between heart disease and brain disease, but the new study for the first time has shown the association between the NT-proBNP protein and sub-clinical brain damage, including a change in brain volume, and the in integrity of brain white matter. The study was published in the December 2016 issue of the journal Radiology.

One hypothesis for the results put forward by the researchers included the possibility that decreased blood flow could lead to cerebral microvascular damage, or create problems for the functioning of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB).

Lead author of the study, neuroradiologist Meike W. Vernooij, MD, PhD, Erasmus MC University Medical Center (Rotterdam, Netherlands), said, “We found that higher serum levels of NT-proBNP were associated with smaller brain volumes, in particular with smaller gray matter volume, and with poorer organization of the brain’s white matter. We cannot rule out that the observed subclinical brain damage led to increased levels of NT-proBNP. However, from a biological perspective, and based on animal studies, it is more likely that cardiac dysfunction affects brain changes rather than vice versa.”

Related Links:
Erasmus MC University Medical Center

Gold Member
Solid State Kv/Dose Multi-Sensor
AGMS-DM+
Under Table Shield
3 Section Double Pivot Under Table Shield
New
Portable Radiology System
DRAGON ELITE & CLASSIC
New
Ultrasound Doppler System
Doppler BT-200

Print article

Channels

Radiography

view channel
:	Image: The AI model could be a valuable adjunct to human radiologists in breast cancer diagnoses and risk prediction (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

AI Model Predicts 5-Year Breast Cancer Risk from Mammograms

Approximately 13% of U.S. women, or one in every eight, are predicted to develop invasive breast cancer over their lifetime, with 1 in 39 women (3%) succumbing to the illness, according to the American... Read more

Nuclear Medicine

view channel
Image: The AI system uses scintigraphy imaging for early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

AI System Automatically and Reliably Detects Cardiac Amyloidosis Using Scintigraphy Imaging

Cardiac amyloidosis, a condition characterized by the buildup of abnormal protein deposits (amyloids) in the heart muscle, severely affects heart function and can lead to heart failure or death without... Read more

General/Advanced Imaging

view channel
Image: The CIARTIC Move self-driving mobile C-arm has received FDA clearance (Photo courtesy of Siemens)

Self-Driving Mobile C-Arm Reduces Imaging Time during Surgery

Intraoperative imaging faces significant challenges due to staff shortages and the high demands placed on surgical teams in the operating room (OR). A common challenge during many OR procedures is the... Read more

Imaging IT

view channel
Image: The new Medical Imaging Suite makes healthcare imaging data more accessible, interoperable and useful (Photo courtesy of Google Cloud)

New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible

Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more

Industry News

view channel
Image: Samsung Medison CEO Mr. Yongkwan Kim and Bracco Imaging CEO Dr. Fulvio Renoldi Bracco endorsed a MoU agreement (Photo courtesy of Bracco Group)

Samsung and Bracco Enter Into New Diagnostic Ultrasound Technology Agreement

Samsung Medison (Seoul, South Korea) and Bracco Imaging (Milan, Italy) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement to pioneer a new area for diagnostic ultrasound devices and contrast agents.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.