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Coronary heart disease is associated with non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Rosebud O Roberts1, David S Knopman, Yonas E Geda

  • 1Mayo Clinic, Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Epidemiology, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States. roberts.rosebud@mayo.edu

Neurobiology of Aging
|December 19, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is linked to non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (na-MCI), but not amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI). This suggests shared causes between CHD and na-MCI, distinct from a-MCI pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has subtypes, amnestic (a-MCI) and non-amnestic (na-MCI).
  • a-MCI often progresses to Alzheimer's disease, while na-MCI may link to vascular or non-degenerative dementias.
  • Understanding subtype-specific etiologies is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between coronary heart disease (CHD) and distinct subtypes of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  • To explore potential shared etiologies between cardiovascular health and cognitive decline subtypes.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort of 1969 participants aged 70-89 years was studied.
  • Diagnoses of normal cognition, MCI (a-MCI and na-MCI), or dementia were established using clinical and neuropsychological assessments.
  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) was identified through medical history, interviews, and records, defined by myocardial infarction, angina, stenosis, or revascularization.

Main Results:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) showed a significant association with non-amnestic MCI (na-MCI) (OR=1.93).
  • No significant association was found between CHD and amnestic MCI (a-MCI) (OR=0.94).
  • The ApoE ɛ4 allele was associated with a-MCI (OR=1.75) but not na-MCI (OR=1.17).

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that coronary heart disease (CHD) is specifically associated with prevalent non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (na-MCI).
  • This association implies shared underlying pathophysiological mechanisms between CHD and na-MCI.
  • The distinct associations highlight different etiological pathways for a-MCI and na-MCI.

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