Association between Life's Essential 8 and cognitive function: insights from NHANES 2011-2014
Kangni Liang1, Xiaoling Zhang2
1Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|April 23, 2024
Summary
Higher cardiovascular health, measured by Life's Essential 8 (LE8), is linked to better cognitive function in adults. This study found positive associations between LE8 scores and performance on cognitive tests.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health and Cognitive Function
- Public Health and Gerontology
Background:
- Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is a metric developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) to assess cardiovascular health.
- The relationship between LE8 and cognitive function in the general adult population remains largely unexplored.
- Understanding this association is crucial for developing public health strategies promoting brain health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) scores and cognitive function in a diverse adult population.
- To determine if higher cardiovascular health is correlated with better performance on cognitive assessments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 2,301 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).
- Assessed cognitive function using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).
- Employed multivariable linear regression and restricted cubic spline analyses to examine the LE8-cognition relationship.
Main Results:
- Higher LE8 scores were significantly associated with improved performance on the Animal Fluency Test (AFT) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).
- A positive association was observed between higher LE8 scores and the CERAD score, particularly when LE8 scores exceeded 82.5.
- Multivariable regression models, adjusted for confounders, demonstrated these significant relationships.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a significant positive association between optimal cardiovascular health, as indicated by Life's Essential 8, and enhanced cognitive function in adults.
- These findings underscore the importance of maintaining cardiovascular health for preserving cognitive abilities throughout adulthood.
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