Circulating N-Acetylaspartate does not track brain NAA concentrations, cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humans
Abstract N-acetylaspartate (NAA) is the second most abundant metabolite in the human brain; although it is assumed to be a proxy for a neuronal marker, its function is not fully elucidated. NAA is also detectable in plasma, but its relation to cerebral NAA levels, cognitive performance, or features...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15670-0 |
| _version_ | 1818158440765194240 |
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| author | Eleni Rebelos Giuseppe Daniele Beatrice Campi Alessandro Saba Kalle Koskensalo Jukka Ihalainen Ekaterina Saukko Pirjo Nuutila Walter H. Backes Jacobus F. A. Jansen Pieter C. Dagnelie Sebastian Köhler Bastiaan E. de Galan Thomas T. van Sloten Coen D. A. Stehouwer Ele Ferrannini |
| author_facet | Eleni Rebelos Giuseppe Daniele Beatrice Campi Alessandro Saba Kalle Koskensalo Jukka Ihalainen Ekaterina Saukko Pirjo Nuutila Walter H. Backes Jacobus F. A. Jansen Pieter C. Dagnelie Sebastian Köhler Bastiaan E. de Galan Thomas T. van Sloten Coen D. A. Stehouwer Ele Ferrannini |
| author_sort | Eleni Rebelos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract N-acetylaspartate (NAA) is the second most abundant metabolite in the human brain; although it is assumed to be a proxy for a neuronal marker, its function is not fully elucidated. NAA is also detectable in plasma, but its relation to cerebral NAA levels, cognitive performance, or features of cerebral disease has not been investigated. To study whether circulating NAA tracks cerebral NAA levels, and whether circulating NAA correlates with cognitive function and features of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). Two datasets were analyzed. In dataset 1, structural MRI was acquired in 533 subjects to assess four features of cerebral SVD. Cognitive function was evaluated with standardized test scores (N = 824). In dataset 2, brain 1H-MRS from the occipital region was acquired (N = 49). In all subjects, fasting circulating NAA was measured with mass spectrometry. Dataset 1: in univariate and adjusted for confounders models, we found no correlation between circulating NAA and the examined features of cerebral SVD. In univariate analysis, circulating NAA levels were associated inversely with the speed in information processing and the executive function score, however these associations were lost after accounting for confounders. In line with the negative findings of dataset 1, in dataset 2 there was no correlation between circulating and central NAA or total NAA levels. This study indicates that circulating NAA levels do not reflect central (occipital) NAA levels, cognitive function, or cerebral small vessel disease in man. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:30:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59708c8af1614fe5aa779d1718cc4318 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:30:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-59708c8af1614fe5aa779d1718cc43182022-12-22T01:00:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-07-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-15670-0Circulating N-Acetylaspartate does not track brain NAA concentrations, cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humansEleni Rebelos0Giuseppe Daniele1Beatrice Campi2Alessandro Saba3Kalle Koskensalo4Jukka Ihalainen5Ekaterina Saukko6Pirjo Nuutila7Walter H. Backes8Jacobus F. A. Jansen9Pieter C. Dagnelie10Sebastian Köhler11Bastiaan E. de Galan12Thomas T. van Sloten13Coen D. A. Stehouwer14Ele Ferrannini15Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR)Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR)Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of PisaDepartment of Medical Physics, Turku University HospitalTurku PET Centre, University of TurkuDepartment of Radiology, Turku University HospitalTurku PET Centre, University of TurkuDepartment of Medicine, Maastricht University Medical CentreDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical CentreCardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical CentreSchool for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University Medical CentreDepartment of Medicine, Maastricht University Medical CentreDepartment of Medicine, Maastricht University Medical CentreDepartment of Medicine, Maastricht University Medical CentreInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR)Abstract N-acetylaspartate (NAA) is the second most abundant metabolite in the human brain; although it is assumed to be a proxy for a neuronal marker, its function is not fully elucidated. NAA is also detectable in plasma, but its relation to cerebral NAA levels, cognitive performance, or features of cerebral disease has not been investigated. To study whether circulating NAA tracks cerebral NAA levels, and whether circulating NAA correlates with cognitive function and features of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). Two datasets were analyzed. In dataset 1, structural MRI was acquired in 533 subjects to assess four features of cerebral SVD. Cognitive function was evaluated with standardized test scores (N = 824). In dataset 2, brain 1H-MRS from the occipital region was acquired (N = 49). In all subjects, fasting circulating NAA was measured with mass spectrometry. Dataset 1: in univariate and adjusted for confounders models, we found no correlation between circulating NAA and the examined features of cerebral SVD. In univariate analysis, circulating NAA levels were associated inversely with the speed in information processing and the executive function score, however these associations were lost after accounting for confounders. In line with the negative findings of dataset 1, in dataset 2 there was no correlation between circulating and central NAA or total NAA levels. This study indicates that circulating NAA levels do not reflect central (occipital) NAA levels, cognitive function, or cerebral small vessel disease in man.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15670-0 |
| spellingShingle | Eleni Rebelos Giuseppe Daniele Beatrice Campi Alessandro Saba Kalle Koskensalo Jukka Ihalainen Ekaterina Saukko Pirjo Nuutila Walter H. Backes Jacobus F. A. Jansen Pieter C. Dagnelie Sebastian Köhler Bastiaan E. de Galan Thomas T. van Sloten Coen D. A. Stehouwer Ele Ferrannini Circulating N-Acetylaspartate does not track brain NAA concentrations, cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humans Scientific Reports |
| title | Circulating N-Acetylaspartate does not track brain NAA concentrations, cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humans |
| title_full | Circulating N-Acetylaspartate does not track brain NAA concentrations, cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humans |
| title_fullStr | Circulating N-Acetylaspartate does not track brain NAA concentrations, cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Circulating N-Acetylaspartate does not track brain NAA concentrations, cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humans |
| title_short | Circulating N-Acetylaspartate does not track brain NAA concentrations, cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humans |
| title_sort | circulating n acetylaspartate does not track brain naa concentrations cognitive function or features of small vessel disease in humans |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15670-0 |
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