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Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Published on: February 7, 2014
The association between pulse wave velocity and cognitive function: the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study
Joel Singer1, Julian N Trollor, John Crawford
1Brain and Aging Research Program, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Plos One
|May 3, 2013
Summary
Arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), was not linked to cognitive decline in older adults overall. However, higher PWV was associated with poorer cognition in men specifically.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Increased arterial stiffness, indicated by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is linked to aging and potential cerebral microvascular damage.
- Cognitive impairment is a growing concern in the elderly population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cross-sectional relationship between carotid-femoral PWV and cognitive function domains in non-demented older adults.
- To explore potential sex differences in the association between arterial stiffness and cognition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study, including 319 non-demented individuals aged 70-90 years.
- Employed linear regression and analysis of covariance to assess PWV's association with cognitive function, controlling for numerous covariates.
- Examined associations both in the whole sample and separately for men and women.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between PWV and cognitive function in the overall sample after Bonferroni correction.
- A significant association emerged in males, where higher PWV correlated with lower global cognition and memory.
- No significant sex difference in the PWV-cognition association was detected.
Conclusions:
- Overall arterial stiffness, as measured by PWV, does not appear to be a significant predictor of cognitive function in this cohort of non-demented older adults.
- While a link was observed in men, further research is needed to clarify the sex-specific relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive health.
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