A hormone, FGF23, linked to structural deficits in the brain, is the discovery of this team from the University of South Carolina. A discovery documented in the journal PLoS ONE that suggests interventions aimed at improving eating habits to improve brain health, too.
Scientists from South Carolina (MUSC) here document mechanisms by which elevated levels of a hormone called FGF23 can impact brain health. They show that elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are associated with structural changes in the frontal lobes of the brain. These high levels of FGF23 are already known to lead to vascular calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease. The study suggests that a similar process may also affect the brains of patients without chronic kidney disease but with high cardiovascular risk factors. "We find that there is a relationship between elevated levels of FGF23 and some form of structural compromise in the brain," says lead author,
FGF23 is a hormone produced in bone. Normally, FGF23 works in the kidneys and intestines to regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the body. However, FGF23 appears to be increased in people who follow a diet rich in phosphates, which are present in higher concentrations in foods containing preservatives. In people with chronic kidney disease or those who consume a diet high in phosphates, calcification of the arteries that can cause heart attack or stroke could be explained by high levels of FGF23.
Connectome analysis based on FGF23 levels: the team looked at whether FGF23 can lead to brain problems in people with high cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia. The idea was to verify whether a high level of FGF23, in subjects free of chronic kidney disease, was an indicator of risk for cerebrovascular problems. The study is conducted in 50 patients, half of whom have high cardiovascular risk factors and half without these risk factors. All patients had normal renal function. Using magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers analyzed the connectome ( Visual) in the brain of patients that illustrates the connections between different brain areas. The researchers were also able to examine the white matter of the brain, which is more vulnerable to the type of stress that can occur in the event of calcification of the vessels. The frontal lobes, which control learning and complex cognitive functions, have a particularly high white matter density and therefore may be most vulnerable to this type of stress.
The analysis of the modularity of the connectome reveals, for its part, the organization of the different parts of the brain. People with abnormally high modularity show higher levels of disconnection in the brain, which may suggest brain health issues in those areas.
- In patients with elevated FGF23 levels and cardiovascular risk factors,
- the modularity of the connectome is high;
- in patients without cardiovascular risk factors, FGF23 levels do not appear to be associated with increased modularity;
- FGF23, on the other hand, is well associated with brain health problems in people who already suffer from hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol;
- high levels of FGF23 can lead to structural damage in certain areas of the brain, which can increase the risk of stroke or recovery problems.
Gaining a better understanding of “dietary” factors related to brain health is, of course, essential, as brain or cognitive health is associated with aging and recovery. A vulnerability in the brain of patients with high levels of FGF23 may lead to more difficult post-stroke recovery. While previous studies have already highlighted that FGF23 levels are elevated in people with cardiovascular risk factors who consume a diet high in phosphates, these new results highlight the importance of a healthy diet to protect, too, our brain.
An important first step in leading to dietary strategies that promote brain health.
