Abstract Details

Title Epigenetic Markers of Smoking Predict Brain Atrophy Independent of Self-Reported Tobacco Use and Cognitive Status

Topic Aging, Dementia, and Behavioral Neurology

Presentation(s) P3 - Poster Session 3 (11:45 AM-12:45 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 3-014

Objective This study investigates the association between an epigenetic marker of smoking and various measures of brain atrophy, considering self-reported tobacco use and cognitive status.

Background Smoking is a known risk factor for dementia, contributing to brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Traditional assessments relying on self-reported tobacco use may underestimate smoking's impact. Epigenetic markers offer a promising alternative for assessing smoking-related brain changes.

Design/Methods Data were obtained from 79 participants enrolled in the Healthy Brain Initiative, an ongoing longitudinal study of brain aging in older adults in South Florida, who had baseline structural MRI and blood DNA methylation data. A validated epigenetic marker of smoking was used to evaluate smoking-related changes. The analysis adjusted for age, gender, education, self-report tobacco use, cognitive status (34% MCI, 66% unimpaired), and estimated immune cell type proportions. Hierarchical multiple regression assessed the association between the epigenetic marker of smoking and several measures of brain atrophy, hippocampal volume, and white matter integrity.

Results

The epigenetic marker explained the most variance in temporal lobe atrophy (ΔR²=.110, p=.001), followed by global atrophy (ΔR²= .093, p = .004.), frontal atrophy (ΔR²=.091, p =. 004), and hippocampal volume (ΔR²=.061, p =.028). There was no significant association between occipital or parietal lobe atrophy, white matter integrity, or total brain lesion count. The marker's association with brain atrophy measures was independent of self-reported tobacco use, which was not significantly associated with any MRI variables. Additionally, cognitive status (34% MCI) did not moderate the relationship between the epigenetic marker and MRI measures.

Conclusions

The epigenetic marker of smoking explained a modest amount of variance in brain atrophy, most notably in the temporal lobe, independent of self-reported tobacco use, which showed no significant associations with MRI measures. These findings highlight the potential of epigenetic markers to improve brain health assessments beyond traditional self-reported measures.

Authors/Disclosures
Andrea Zhang, MD PRESENTER	Dr. Zhang has nothing to disclose.
Burcu Kaplan, PhD	Ms. Kaplan has nothing to disclose.
LILY WANG, PhD	The institution of Dr. WANG has received research support from NIH.
James E. Galvin, MD, MPH (University of Miami Miller School of Medicine)	Dr. Galvin has received personal compensation in the range of $100,000-$499,999 for serving as a Consultant for Cognivue. Dr. Galvin has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biogen. Dr. Galvin has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving as a Consultant for Eisai. Dr. Galvin has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving as a Consultant for Eli Lilly. Dr. Galvin has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for GE Healthcare. Dr. Galvin has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Roche. Dr. Galvin has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for PassageBio. The institution of Dr. Galvin has received research support from National Institutes of Health. Dr. Galvin has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care. Dr. Galvin has a non-compensated relationship as a Board of Directors with Alzheimer Association Southeast Florida Chapter that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Galvin has a non-compensated relationship as a Board of Directors with Lewy Body Dementia Association that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Galvin has a non-compensated relationship as a Board of Directors with Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.
David Lukacsovich	Mr. Lukacsovich has nothing to disclose.
Deirdre Oshea, PhD	Dr. Oshea has nothing to disclose.

��ɫ��

��ɫ��