Relationship between cardiovascular outcomes, hippocampal vascularization and hippocampal volume

Motivation: Studies have shown a correlation between cardiovascular health and the size of the hippocampus. However, how cardiovascular conditions impact blood flow and vessel health in the brain, and how this potentially affects hippocampus, is still not fully understandGoal(s): We tested whether hippocampal vascularization statistically mediates the association of multiple cardiovascular risk factors and hippocampal volumes in each hemisphere. Approach: Hippocampal vascularization was segmented from T1-weighted MPRAGE images at 7T. Mediation analysis was performed to test the relationship between various cardiovascular variables and hippocampal volume via hippocampal vascularizationResults: Hippocampal vascularization statistically mediates the association between cardiovascular health and hippocampal volumeImpact: understanding the exact causal pathways between cardiovascular outcomes, hippocampal vascularization, and hippocampal volume is crucial for establish novel strategies for potentially mitigating the risk of cognitive decline and cerebrovascular diseases