Abstract

Background: Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) include not smoking, having a healthy diet pattern, adequate physical activity, healthy body weight, and healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose. Better cardiovascular health metrics, measured by increasing LS7 scores, was associated with improved cognitive function. Purpose: Investigate the effect of LS7 on brain imaging outcomes in Hispanics/Latinos participating of the SOL-INCA sub-study. Methods: Hispanics/Latinos adults from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) who participated in the SOL - Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging Magnetic Resonance Imaging (SOL-INCA MRI) ancillary study underwent 3T brain MR imaging. LS7 scores and brain volumes were calculated. Volumes of interest included total brain, total and regional grey matter (frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital), total white matter, total CSF, lateral ventricle, and white matter hyperintensity (WMH). WMH values were log-transformed. All MRI volumes were residualized for total cranial volume prior to analysis. The influence of LS7 scores on MRI outcomes was investigated using linear regression analysis adjusted by baseline characteristics. These included sex, height, immigrant status and years of residence in the US, age at MRI scan, Hispanic/Latino background, level of education, household income, insurance status, and language preference. Results: A total of 1,534 participants (males 33%) were included in the study. The average age (mean±SD) was 60±10 and the average LS7 score 7±2. In the adjusted model, increasing LS7 scores were associated with larger cerebral white (β=1.40; p≤0.001) and frontal grey volumes (β=0.33; p≤0.001) as well as smaller CSF (β=-1.26; p≤0.001) and WMH volumes (β=-0.01; p≤0.001). The association of higher LS7 scores and better brain MR outcomes was observed in both males and females. Conclusions: Higher LS7 scores are associated with improved biomarkers of brain health. Further studies are necessary to determine if the anatomic changes observed correlate with cognitive performance.

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