Cardiovascular risk and cognitive performance: A population-based cross-sectional study (NEDICES2-RISK)

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors are known to increase the likelihood of cognitive impairment.
• Understanding the relationship between CVR and cognitive performance is crucial for preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between cardiovascular risk and cognitive performance stratified by sex within the Spanish population.
• To identify specific cognitive domains affected by CVR in different sexes.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of the population-based NEDICES-2 cohort, including 863 participants aged 55-75 without prior cardiovascular events.
• Cardiovascular risk was estimated using the REGICOR and FRESCO equations.
• Cognitive performance was evaluated across multiple domains including memory, attention, and psychomotor speed using generalized linear models.

Main Results:

• Higher CVR was associated with worse cognitive outcomes in both sexes.
• Women with higher CVR (FRESCO) showed significantly poorer performance in immediate and delayed memory, clock drawing, and psychomotor speed tests.
• Men with higher CVR (REGICOR and FRESCO) exhibited lower scores in cognitive tests including memory, word accentuation, and psychomotor speed.

Conclusions:

• Elevated cardiovascular risk is significantly associated with diminished cognitive performance in Spanish adults aged 55-75.
• Memory, attention, and psychomotor speed represent the cognitive domains most adversely affected by higher CVR.
• These findings underscore the importance of cardiovascular health management for preserving cognitive function across sexes.