Association between α-Klotho and Deep White Matter Lesions in the Brain: A Pilot Case Control Study Using Brain MRI (original) (raw)

2017, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

Background: The anti-aging protein, ␣-Klotho, may be involved in cognitive decline and has potential as a surrogate marker that reflects dementia. However, the role of ␣-Klotho in the brain has not been sufficiently investigated. Objective: Here, we investigated the association between ␣-Klotho and cognitive decline that is associated with cerebral deep white matter lesions (DWMLs). Methods: Two hundred-eighty participants (187 males and 93 females, mean age: 70.8 years old) were evaluated for DWMLs, and the Fazekas scale (Grade) was assessed following brain magnetic resonance imaging. A questionnaire concerning lifestyle and neuropsychological tests was administered, and their associations with the blood ␣-Klotho level were retrospectively investigated. Results: The ␣-Klotho level was 685.1 pg/mL in Grade 0 (68 subjects), 634.1 in G1 (134), 596.0 in G2 (62), and 571.6 in G3 (16), showing that the level significantly decreased with advanced grades. Significant correlations were noted between the ␣-Klotho level and higher brain function tests including the Mini-Mental State Examination and word fluency tests (p < 0.05). When a 90th percentile value of the level in the G0 group (400 pg/mL) or lower was defined as a low ␣-Klotho level, the odds