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. 2021 Dec 7;97(23):e2340–e2352. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012997

Figure 5. Brain Structure Partly Mediates the Association of DNAm CRP With Cognitive Ability.

Figure 5

Top panel (A, B) displays single mediator models, bottom panel (C, D) displays multiple mediator models. (A) Model 1 structural equation model path diagrams showing that in model 1, the association between DNA methylation (DNAm) C-reactive protein (CRP) and general cognitive ability (path c) was significantly and partially mediated by normal-appearing white matter volume (path ab = −0.033, p = 0.001), attenuating the c path by 21% (path c′) and (C) 29.7% by multiple MRI variables (ab = −0.047, p = 0.002). (B) Single mediator models indirect effect size and standard error bars. (D) Multiple mediator models indirect effect size and standard error bars. Light bars show model 1 (includes covariates age and sex), dark bars show model 2, which contains additional health covariates (age + sex + body mass index [BMI] + hypertension + smoking status + alcohol use + cardiovascular disease [CVD] history + diabetes); *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01. gf = general cognitive ability; gFA = general fractional anisotropy; GM = gray matter; gMD = general mean diffusivity; NAWM = normal-appearing white matter; WMH = white matter hyperintensity.