Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Is there a multiplicative adverse effect of cardiovascular and kidney disease on neuropsychological measures?
Edward Helmes1, Truls Østbye, Runa Steenhuis
1a Department of Psychology , James Cook University , Townsville , Queensland , Australia.
Insights
Chronic diseases like cardiovascular and kidney disease may interact, not just add, to impair cognitive function in older adults. This study explored these complex relationships in Canadians aged 65 and older.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Aging is associated with increased chronic disease incidence and comorbidity.
- Conditions like cardiovascular disease and kidney disease are linked to cognitive decline.
- The interaction between multiple chronic diseases and cognition is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the cognitive effects of cardiovascular disease and kidney disease are additive or multiplicative.
- To examine the impact of co-occurring cardiovascular and kidney disease on cognitive function in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1,782 cognitively healthy Canadians aged 65 and older from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging.
- Participants were categorized based on the presence of kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, neither, or both.
- Cognitive performance was assessed, focusing on verbal fluency measures.
Main Results:
- Verbal fluency scores indicated some predicted interaction effects between diseases.
- However, the pattern did not show the worst performance in individuals with both conditions as hypothesized.
- Main effects of disease and significant multiplicative interactions were less pronounced than expected.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests complex, potentially interactive, relationships between chronic diseases and cognitive function in older adults.
- Factors like sample characteristics and exclusion criteria may have influenced the observed results.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the interplay between multiple morbidities and cognitive aging.
Abstract:
Increasing age is accompanied by increased incidence and comorbidity of various chronic diseases. Many of these conditions, such as cardiovascular and kidney disease, can lead to declines in cognitive functioning. A simple additive effect may be commonly assumed. We here evaluate the hypothesis that such effects may be multiplicative/interactive rather than simply additive, resulting in disproportionate decrements in performance on tests of different cognitive functions. Participants were the 1,782 Canadians aged 65 years and older who completed the clinical assessment of the national Canadian Study of Health and Aging and who were without dementia. Participants were categorized as having either kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, neither, or both. Scores on a measure of verbal fluency showed the predicted interaction effects, but not in the predicted pattern of worst performance in the group with both disorders. Reasons for the relative lack of observed main effects of disease and multiplicative interactions, such as the exclusion of people with dementia and nature of the sample from the community, are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment
One condition associated with renal failure is uremia. Uremia is characterized by impaired glomerular filtration and fluid accumulation in the body. This condition hinders the renal clearance of drugs, resulting in drug accumulation and potential...
01:24Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
01:25Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Dose Adjustments Based on Drug Clearance and Elimination Rate Constant
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients