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Updated: Jun 8, 2025
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Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
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Associations Between Atherosclerosis and Subsequent Cognitive Decline: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Jie Liang1, Yang Pan1, Wenya Zhang1
1School of Nursing Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Beijing China.
Journal of the American Heart Association
|November 4, 2024
Summary
More significant atherosclerosis, including carotid plaques and coronary artery calcification, is linked to faster cognitive decline in semantic fluency and global cognition. This finding highlights the impact of vascular health on brain function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
Background:
- Atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by plaque buildup in arteries, is a growing concern in aging populations.
- The relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis and cognitive decline requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baseline atherosclerosis and subsequent short-term cognitive decline in specific domains.
- To determine if markers of atherosclerosis predict the rate of cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- The Beijing Research on Aging and Vessel (BRAVE) study, a population-based prospective cohort, included 932 adults aged 40-80 without dementia.
- Baseline atherosclerosis was assessed using carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, coronary artery calcification, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity.
- Cognitive function, including semantic fluency and global cognition, was reassessed and analyzed using linear mixed models.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were significantly associated with faster semantic fluency decline.
- Elevated coronary artery calcification (≥400) also predicted a more rapid decline in semantic fluency.
- Increased carotid intima-media thickness, coronary artery calcification, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity correlated with a faster decline in global cognition.
Conclusions:
- Greater atherosclerosis burden is significantly associated with accelerated decline in semantic fluency.
- Vascular health, as indicated by atherosclerosis markers, plays a crucial role in maintaining global cognitive function over time.
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