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Published on: December 8, 2014
Composite cardiovascular risk scores and neuropsychological functioning: a meta-analytic review
Jonathan DeRight1, Randall S Jorgensen, Misaell J Cabral
1Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA, jderight@gmail.com.
Background:
The ability for patients to understand their risk for disease is important to early intervention and effective treatment. The link between individual cardiovascular risk factors and cognition has been well-established.
Purpose:
This study investigated the relationship between cognition and a combination of these factors through a single composite risk score.
Methods:
This study quantitatively summarized the strength of the association between composite cardiovascular risk scores and cognitive test performance using meta-analytic methods.
Results:
One hundred and nine effect sizes were obtained from 19 studies employing 54,564 participants. Composite risk scores showed a significant association (r=-0.16) with cognitive test performance. Cognitive domain and age did not significantly modify this relationship.
Conclusions:
Composite cardiovascular risk scores can be useful indicators of future cognition. The development of a dementia risk score using similar risk factors could aid in the assessment and lifestyle interventions of persons at risk for dementia.
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