Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016
Life's Essential 8™ and incident dementia in an urban cohort: Findings from the Northern Manhattan Study
Erin-Leigh Gallop1,2, Pooja Kondeti3, Hannah Gardener1,2
1Evelyn McKnight Brain Institute University of Miami School of Medicine Miami Florida USA.
Introduction:
The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8™ (LE8) defines cardiovascular health (CVH) using eight behavioral and clinical metrics. We examined the association between CVH and incident dementia.
Methods:
We used data from 920 dementia-free participants of the Northern Manhattan Study. LE8 scores (range: 0-100) were calculated from information on clinical and behavioral characteristics. Dementia was adjudicated by expert clinicians using neuropsychological assessments and clinical records. We used Cox proportional hazards models to determine associations adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and insurance.
Results:
Mean age was 64 years, 60% of participants were female, 65% were Hispanic, and mean LE8 score was 60. Over 9 years, 175 participants developed dementia. Each 10-unit decrement in LE8 score was associated with a greater risk of dementia (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-1.51).
Discussion:
CVH is important for brain health, and our results support interventions aimed at improving CVH for prevention of dementia.
Related Concept Videos
Dementia l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Huntington Disease l: Introduction
