Dejan Jakimovski1, Bianca Weinstock-Guttman2, Sirin Gandhi1, Yi Guan1, Jesper Hagemeier1, Deepa P Ramasamy1, Tom A Fuchs1, Richard W Browne3, Niels Bergsland1, Michael G Dwyer1,4, Murali Ramanathan5, Robert Zivadinov6,7. 1. Department of Neurology, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY, 142013, USA. 2. Department of Neurology, Jacobs Multiple Sclerosis Center, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA. 3. Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA. 4. Center for Biomedical Imaging at Clinical Translational Science Institute, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA. 5. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA. 6. Department of Neurology, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY, 142013, USA. rzivadinov@bnac.net. 7. Center for Biomedical Imaging at Clinical Translational Science Institute, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA. rzivadinov@bnac.net.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding the role, if any, of dietary and lifestyle factors in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of lifestyle-based risk factors linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) on clinical and MRI-derived MS outcomes. METHODS: The study enrolled 175 MS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients and 42 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) who were longitudinally followed for 5.5 years. The 20-year CVD risk was calculated by Healthy Heart Score (HHS) prediction model which includes age, smoking, body mass index, dietary intake, exercise, and alcohol consumption. Baseline and follow-up MRI scans were obtained and cross-sectional and longitudinal changes of T2-lesion volume (LV), whole brain volume (WBV), white matter volume (WMV), gray matter volume (GMV), and lateral ventricular volume (LVV) were calculated. RESULTS: After correcting for disease duration, the baseline HHS values of the MS group were associated with baseline GMV (rs = - 0.20, p = 0.01), and longitudinal LVV change (rs = 0.19, p = 0.01). The association with LVV remained significant after adjusting for baseline LVV volumes (rs = 0.2, p = 0.008) in MS patients. The diet component of the HHS was associated with the 5-year T2-LV accrual (rs = - 0.191, p = 0.04) in MS. In the HC group, the HHS was associated with LVV (rs = 0.58, p < 0.001), GMV (rs = - 0.57, p < 0.001), WBV (rs = - 0.55, p = 0.001), T2-LV (rs = 0.41, p = 0.027), and WMV (rs = - 0.38, p = 0.042). Additionally, the HC HHS was associated with the 5-year change in LVV (rs = 0.54, p = 0.001) and in WBV (rs = - 0.45, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Lifestyle risk factors contribute to accelerated central brain atrophy in MS patients, whereas unhealthier diet is associated with MS lesion accrual. Despite the lower overall effect when compared to HCs, lifestyle-based modifications may still provide a beneficial effect on reducing brain atrophy in MS patients.
BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding the role, if any, of dietary and lifestyle factors in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of lifestyle-based risk factors linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) on clinical and MRI-derived MS outcomes. METHODS: The study enrolled 175 MS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients and 42 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) who were longitudinally followed for 5.5 years. The 20-year CVD risk was calculated by Healthy Heart Score (HHS) prediction model which includes age, smoking, body mass index, dietary intake, exercise, and alcohol consumption. Baseline and follow-up MRI scans were obtained and cross-sectional and longitudinal changes of T2-lesion volume (LV), whole brain volume (WBV), white matter volume (WMV), gray matter volume (GMV), and lateral ventricular volume (LVV) were calculated. RESULTS: After correcting for disease duration, the baseline HHS values of the MS group were associated with baseline GMV (rs = - 0.20, p = 0.01), and longitudinal LVV change (rs = 0.19, p = 0.01). The association with LVV remained significant after adjusting for baseline LVV volumes (rs = 0.2, p = 0.008) in MSpatients. The diet component of the HHS was associated with the 5-year T2-LV accrual (rs = - 0.191, p = 0.04) in MS. In the HC group, the HHS was associated with LVV (rs = 0.58, p < 0.001), GMV (rs = - 0.57, p < 0.001), WBV (rs = - 0.55, p = 0.001), T2-LV (rs = 0.41, p = 0.027), and WMV (rs = - 0.38, p = 0.042). Additionally, the HC HHS was associated with the 5-year change in LVV (rs = 0.54, p = 0.001) and in WBV (rs = - 0.45, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Lifestyle risk factors contribute to accelerated central brain atrophy in MSpatients, whereas unhealthier diet is associated with MS lesion accrual. Despite the lower overall effect when compared to HCs, lifestyle-based modifications may still provide a beneficial effect on reducing brain atrophy in MSpatients.