Dataset Information

A Brain Phenotype for Stressor-Evoked Blood Pressure Reactivity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Individuals who exhibit large-magnitude blood pressure (BP) reactions to acute psychological stressors are at risk for hypertension and premature death by cardiovascular disease. This study tested whether a multivariate pattern of stressor-evoked brain activity could reliably predict individual differences in BP reactivity, providing novel evidence for a candidate neurophysiological source of stress-related cardiovascular risk.

Methods and results

Community-dwelling adults (N=310; 30-51 years; 153 women) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging with concurrent BP monitoring while completing a standardized battery of stressor tasks. Across individuals, the battery evoked an increase systolic and diastolic BP relative to a nonstressor baseline period (M ?systolic BP/?diastolic BP=4.3/1.9 mm Hg [95% confidence interval=3.7-5.0/1.4-2.3 mm Hg]). Using cross-validation and machine learning approaches, including dimensionality reduction and linear shrinkage models, a multivariate pattern of stressor-evoked functional magnetic resonance imaging activity was identified in a training subsample (N=206). This multivariate pattern reliably predicted both systolic BP (r=0.32; P<0.005) and diastolic BP (r=0.25; P<0.01) reactivity in an independent subsample used for testing and replication (N=104). Brain areas encompassed by the pattern that were strongly predictive included those implicated in psychological stressor processing and cardiovascular responding through autonomic pathways, including the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and insula.

Conclusions

A novel multivariate pattern of stressor-evoked brain activity may comprise a phenotype that partly accounts for individual differences in BP reactivity, a stress-related cardiovascular risk factor.

SUBMITTER: Gianaros PJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5634271 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

A Brain Phenotype for Stressor-Evoked Blood Pressure Reactivity.

Gianaros Peter J PJ Sheu Lei K LK Uyar Fatma F Koushik Jayanth J Jennings J Richard JR Wager Tor D TD Singh Aarti A Verstynen Timothy D TD

Journal of the American Heart Association 20170823 9

<h4>Background</h4>Individuals who exhibit large-magnitude blood pressure (BP) reactions to acute psychological stressors are at risk for hypertension and premature death by cardiovascular disease. This study tested whether a multivariate pattern of stressor-evoked brain activity could reliably predict individual differences in BP reactivity, providing novel evidence for a candidate neurophysiological source of stress-related cardiovascular risk.<h4>Methods and results</h4>Community-dwelling adu ...[more]

PMID: 28835356

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundLarge blood pressure (BP) variability may contribute to stroke and dementia, but the mechanisms are largely unknown.ObjectivesThis study investigated the association of BP variation, considering its magnitude and direction, with the presence and progression of subclinical brain disease in the general population.MethodsThis study included 2,348 participants age ≥55 years from a prospective cohort study. BP was measured at each visit every 3 to 4 years from 1990 onward. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at all visits from 2005 onward. The authors primarily assessed variation as the absolute difference in BP divided by the mean over 2 sequential visits for both systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), and further assessed the direction of the variation. The authors investigated the multivariate-adjusted associations of BP variation with subsequent measurements of MRI markers of cerebral small vessel disease, brain tissue volumes, and white matter microstructural integrity. Longitudinal changes in these markers also were assessed.ResultsA large SBP variation (top vs. bottom tertiles), measured on average 7 years preceding brain MRI, was associated with higher odds of having severe white matter hyperintensities (WMH) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21 to 1.43), lacunes (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.48), and microbleeds (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.31). Similarly, this variation was associated with smaller total brain volume and worse white matter microstructural integrity (all p < 0.001). A large SBP variation was also associated with the progression of WMH (rate ratio [RR]: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.27). Higher burdens of these brain imaging markers were observed with both large rises and falls in SBP. Similar findings were observed for DBP variation.ConclusionsElevated BP variation was associated with a wide range of subclinical brain structural changes, including MRI markers of cerebral small vessel disease, smaller brain tissue volumes, and worse white matter microstructural integrity. These subclinical brain changes could be the underlying mechanisms linking BP variation to dementia and stroke.

Dataset Information

A Brain Phenotype for Stressor-Evoked Blood Pressure Reactivity.

Background

Methods and results

Conclusions

Publications

A Brain Phenotype for Stressor-Evoked Blood Pressure Reactivity.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets