Heart-brain Connections: Phenotypic and Genetic Insights from Magnetic Resonance Images

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2023 Jun 1

PMID 37262162

Authors

Bingxin Zhao

Tengfei Li

Zirui Fan

Yue Yang

Juan Shu

Xiaochen Yang

Xifeng Wang

Tianyou Luo

Jiarui Tang

Di Xiong

Zhenyi Wu

Bingxuan Li

Jie Chen

Yue Shan

Chalmer Tomlinson

Ziliang Zhu

Yun Li

Jason L Stein

Hongtu Zhu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cardiovascular health interacts with cognitive and mental health in complex ways, yet little is known about the phenotypic and genetic links of heart-brain systems. We quantified heart-brain connections using multiorgan magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from more than 40,000 subjects. Heart MRI traits displayed numerous association patterns with brain gray matter morphometry, white matter microstructure, and functional networks. We identified 80 associated genomic loci ( < 6.09 × 10) for heart MRI traits, which shared genetic influences with cardiovascular and brain diseases. Genetic correlations were observed between heart MRI traits and brain-related traits and disorders. Mendelian randomization suggests that heart conditions may causally contribute to brain disorders. Our results advance a multiorgan perspective on human health by revealing heart-brain connections and shared genetic influences.

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