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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Cf-PWV to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Association between central blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and mild cognitive impairment
R Suleman1, R Padwal1, P Hamilton1
1Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada.
Background:
To determine the relationship between central blood pressure (CBP) indices and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in adults over the age of 50.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study conducted using a non-invasive SphygmoCor XCEL device. CBP indices and brachial blood pressure were measured in 50 inpatients and outpatients. MCI was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) instrument and by the European Consortium Criteria (ECC).
Results:
Seventy-six percent of subjects had hypertension, and 52% were diagnosed as having MCI using the ECC. No significant association was found between any of the measured blood pressure variables and global cognition. A significant relationship was observed between augmentation index (AI) and abnormal clock-drawing (p = 0.04) and language (p = 0.02), and between pulse pressure amplification (PPA) and language (p = 0.03).
Conclusion:
CBP indices like AI and PPA, which are markers of vascular stiffness, are associated with poor executive function and language cognitive domain deficits.
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