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Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
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Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia

Published on: November 6, 2017

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Intracranial arteriosclerosis and the risk of dementia: A population-based cohort study

Tim C van den Beukel1,2,3, Frank J Wolters1,4,5, Uwe Siebert6,7,8

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, CA, The Netherlands.

Alzheimer'S & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer'S Association
|October 10, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Intracranial arteriosclerosis, including carotid and vertebrobasilar artery calcification, significantly elevates dementia risk. This link is partly explained by increased cerebral small vessel disease.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • The relationship between intracranial arteriosclerosis and dementia is not well understood.
  • Arteriosclerosis affects blood vessels in the brain, potentially impacting cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between intracranial arteriosclerosis and dementia risk.
  • To explore the mediating role of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and brain structure volumes.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed intracranial carotid artery calcification (ICAC) and vertebrobasilar artery calcification (VBAC) in 2339 dementia-free individuals.
  • Utilized Cox models to analyze dementia risk and causal mediation analyses for indirect effects.

Main Results:

  • Both ICAC presence and volume were associated with increased dementia risk (HR 1.53 and 1.19, respectively).
  • Severe VBAC also increased dementia risk (HR 1.89).
  • cSVD mediated 13% of the ICAC effect and 24% of the VBAC effect on dementia.

Conclusions:

  • Intracranial arteriosclerosis is a significant risk factor for dementia.
  • Cerebral small vessel disease partially mediates the link between intracranial arteriosclerosis and dementia.
Abstract

Keywords:
arterial calcificationarteriosclerosiscohort studydementiaepidemiology

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