Risk of Stroke, Dementia, and Cognitive Decline with Coronary and Arterial Calcification

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Radiology

Background:

• Cerebrovascular insults can lead to cognitive disorders, from mild impairment to dementia.
• Atherosclerosis in major arteries is a known risk factor for stroke, cognitive impairment, and dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the association between subclinical atherosclerotic calcification detected by computed tomography (CT) and the risk of stroke, cognitive impairment (CI), and dementia.
• To highlight the utility of CT in quantifying vascular calcification across different arterial beds.

Main Methods:

• Review of extant research on cerebrovascular insults and cognitive disorders.
• Examination of studies linking atherosclerosis to stroke, CI, and dementia.
• Focus on computed tomography (CT) for detecting and quantifying subclinical atherosclerotic calcification.

Main Results:

• CT can accurately quantify vascular calcification in multiple arterial locations in a single examination.
• The strength of the association between CT findings and cognitive impairment/stroke risk varies by arterial location and calcification severity.
• Data are currently limited, indicating a need for more investigation.

Conclusions:

• Subclinical atherosclerotic calcification, particularly when detected by CT, is associated with an increased risk of stroke, CI, and dementia.
• Further research is essential to elucidate the precise relationship between vascular calcification and cognitive decline.
• Randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate preventive strategies for patients with incidentally identified vascular calcifications.