Serum Uric Acid Levels Associated with Outcomes of Neurodegenerative Disorders and Brain Health: Findings from the UK Biobank

Abstract

Background: The relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and brain-related health remains uncertain. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between SUA levels and some neurodegenerative disorders and brain structure. Design: A longitudinal study. Setting and participants: 384,517 participants who did not have stroke, dementia, and Parkinsonism, with complete urate testes and covariates were included. Measurements: Cox proportional hazards models, competing risk models, and restricted cubic spine models were applied. Results: During the median follow-up time of 12.7 years (interquartile range [IQR]:12.0, 13.5), 7821 (2.0%) participants developed stroke, 5103 (1.3%) participants developed dementia, and 2341 (0.6%) participants developed Parkinsonism. Nonlinear relationships were identified between SUA levels and stroke (J-shaped), dementia, and Parkinsonism (U-shaped). SUA levels of 4.2 mg/dl, 6.4 mg/dl, and 6.6 mg/dl yielded the lowest risk of stroke, dementia, and Parkinsonism, respectively. Besides, we found high SUA levels reduced the volumes of total brain, grey matter, white matter, grey matter in the hippocampus, and hippocampus, but increased lateral-ventricle volume. Inflammation accounted for 9.1% and 10.0% in the association of SUA with stroke and lateral-ventricle volume. Conclusions: Lower SUA levels increased the risk of Parkinsonism, while both lower and higher SUA levels were positively associated with increased risk of stroke and dementia. Moreover, high SUA levels reduced brain structure volumes. Our findings suggest the association between SUA levels and brain-related disorders and highlight the importance of SUA management.

Keywords

• Uric acid
• Stroke
• Dementia
• Parkinsonism
• UK Biobank