Multi-organ imaging demonstrates the heart-brain-liver axis in UK Biobank participants

Celeste McCracken, Zahra Raisi-Estabragh (), Michele Veldsman, Betty Raman, Andrea Dennis, Masud Husain, Thomas E. Nichols, Steffen E. Petersen and Stefan Neubauer
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Celeste McCracken: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Zahra Raisi-Estabragh: Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square
Michele Veldsman: University of Oxford
Betty Raman: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Andrea Dennis: Perspectum Ltd, Gemini One
Masud Husain: University of Oxford
Thomas E. Nichols: University of Oxford
Steffen E. Petersen: Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square
Stefan Neubauer: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Medical imaging provides numerous insights into the subclinical changes that precede serious diseases such as heart disease and dementia. However, most imaging research either describes a single organ system or draws on clinical cohorts with small sample sizes. In this study, we use state-of-the-art multi-organ magnetic resonance imaging phenotypes to investigate cross-sectional relationships across the heart-brain-liver axis in 30,444 UK Biobank participants. Despite controlling for an extensive range of demographic and clinical covariates, we find significant associations between imaging-derived phenotypes of the heart (left ventricular structure, function and aortic distensibility), brain (brain volumes, white matter hyperintensities and white matter microstructure), and liver (liver fat, liver iron and fibroinflammation). Simultaneous three-organ modelling identifies differentially important pathways across the heart-brain-liver axis with evidence of both direct and indirect associations. This study describes a potentially cumulative burden of multiple-organ dysfunction and provides essential insight into multi-organ disease prevention.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35321-2

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