Ischemic Heart Disease and Vascular Risk Factors Are Associated With Accelerated Brain Aging.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been linked with poor brain outcomes. The brain magnetic resonance imaging-derived difference between predicted brain age and actual chronological age (brain-age delta in years, positive for accelerated brain aging) may serve as an effective means of communicating brain health to patients to promote healthier lifestyles. OBJECTIVES: The authors investigated the impact of prevalent IHD on brain aging, potential underlying mechanisms, and its relationship with dementia risk, vascular risk factors, cardiovascular structure, and function. METHODS: Brain age was estimated in subjects with prevalent IHD (n = 1,341) using a Bayesian ridge regression model with 25 structural (volumetric) brain magnetic resonance imaging features and built using UK Biobank participants with no prevalent IHD (n = 35,237). RESULTS: Prevalent IHD was linked to significantly accelerated brain aging (P < 0.001) that was not fully mediated by microvascular injury. Brain aging (positive brain-age delta) was associated with increased risk of dementia (OR: 1.13 [95% CI: 1.04-1.22]; P = 0.002), vascular risk factors (such as diabetes), and high adiposity. In the absence of IHD, brain aging was also associated with cardiovascular structural and functional changes typically observed in aging hearts. However, such alterations were not linked with risk of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalent IHD and coexisting vascular risk factors are associated with accelerated brain aging and risk of dementia. Positive brain-age delta representing accelerated brain aging may serve as an effective communication tool to show the impact of modifiable risk factors and disease supporting preventative strategies.

COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza: No Room for Two.

Objective With the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019 fears were expressed for a possible twindemic in the coming flu seasons. Fortunately, this was not the case for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 flu seasons as flu showed very low historical rates during these periods. The objective of our study was to look at the existing flu data for the 2019-2021 period and analyze possible reasons for the near absence of seasonal flu. Methods We performed retrospective surveillance regarding seasonal influenza rates for the years 2019-2021, the years that the COVID-19 was present. Epidemiological data concerning seasonal influenza for the years 2019-2021 were collected and analyzed Results Extremely low numbers of flu cases were reported in FluNet, FluView, and TESSy influenza surveillance systems during the years 2019, 2020, and 2021 compared to previous years prior to COVID-19. Conclusions A twindemic outbreak during the 2019-2021 flu seasons did not occur despite expressed concerns. The worldwide implementation of mitigation measures for individuals and communities to control severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, the increased flu vaccination rate, the virus interference and the lower rate of testing for flu are the main reasons for the marked decrease in reported flu cases during 2019-2021 flu seasons.