Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Heart-brain connections: Phenotypic and genetic insights from magnetic resonance images

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, Chal E. Tomlinson, Ziliang Zhu, Yun Li, Jason L. Stein, Hongtu Zhu

Science · 2023

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Summary

This multiorgan imaging study of over 40,000 subjects reveals significant phenotypic and genetic connections between heart and brain health. The researchers identified 80 genomic loci associated with cardiac MRI traits that share genetic influences with both cardiovascular and brain diseases, with Mendelian randomisation evidence suggesting causal contributions of heart conditions to brain disorders. The findings advance understanding of systemic health by demonstrating interconnected heart-brain genetic architecture.

Regional applicability

The study's findings on heart-brain genetic links may inform UK clinical practice and preventive health strategies, though the geographic origin of the cohort is not specified in the abstract. Results could support integrated cardiovascular and neurological care approaches in NHS clinical settings if the study population is representative of or comparable to UK populations.

Key measures

Heart MRI traits (cardiac morphology and function); brain gray matter morphometry; white matter microstructure; functional brain networks; genomic loci (P < 6.09 × 10−10); genetic correlations; Mendelian randomisation estimates

Outcomes reported

The study quantified associations between heart MRI traits and brain morphometry, white matter microstructure, and functional networks in over 40,000 subjects. The research identified 80 genomic loci associated with heart MRI traits that shared genetic influences with cardiovascular and brain diseases.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Dietary patterns & chronic disease
Study type
Research
Study design
Observational cohort
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
System type
Human clinical
DOI
10.1126/science.abn6598
Catalogue ID
SNmojad6s2-0hzar5

Topic tags

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