Key result
Greater baseline atherosclerosis, including higher carotid intima-media thickness, was significantly associated with a faster decline in semantic fluency (β=-0.065 SD/y; P=0.008).
Why the study?
It was unknown whether baseline atherosclerosis is associated with subsequent short-term domain-specific cognitive decline.
Is baseline atherosclerosis associated with subsequent short-term domain-specific cognitive decline in adults aged 40 to 80 years free of dementia?
Cohort (n=932)
Is baseline atherosclerosis associated with subsequent short-term domain-specific cognitive decline in adults aged 40 to 80 years free of dementia?
Effect estimate: β=-0.065 SD/y (95% CI -0.112 to -0.017)
p-value: p=0.008
Greater baseline atherosclerosis burden is significantly associated with faster short-term declines in semantic fluency and global cognition in adults without dementia.
Supports vascular monitoring in cognitive assessment; hypothesis-generating for atherosclerosis and domain-specific decline.
Background This study aimed to examine whether baseline atherosclerosis was associated with subsequent short‐term domain‐specific cognitive decline. Methods and Results This research was based on the BRAVE (Beijing Research on Aging and Vessel) study, a population‐based prospective cohort study of adults aged 40 to 80 years, free of dementia. At baseline (wave 1, 2019), cognitive assessments and atherosclerosis measures, including carotid intima‐media thickness, carotid plaques, coronary artery calcification, and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity were conducted. Cognitive function was reassessed in wave 2 (2022–2023) using linear mixed models for analysis. A total of 932 participants (63.7% women; mean age, 60.0±6.9 years) were included. Compared with the lowest tertile of carotid intima‐media thickness, carotid plaques, and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity, or a coronary artery calcification score=0, the highest tertile of carotid intima‐media thickness (β=−0.065 SD/y [95% CI, −0.112 to −0.017]; P =0.008), carotid plaques (β=−0.070 SD/y [95% CI, −0.130 to −0.011]; P =0.021), and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (β=−0.057 SD/y [95% CI, −0.105 to −0.010]; P =0.018), and a coronary artery calcification score≥400 (β=−0.081 SD/y [95% CI, −0.153 to −0.008]; P =0.029) were significantly associated with a faster decline in semantic fluency after multivariable adjustment. Moreover, greater carotid intima‐media thickness, coronary artery calcification, and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity were significantly associated with a faster decline in global cognition. Conclusions More significant atherosclerosis was associated with faster semantic fluency and global cognition declines.
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Liang et al. (2024) conducted a cohort in Cognitive decline (n=932). Baseline atherosclerosis (carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, coronary artery calcification, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity) vs. Lowest tertile of atherosclerosis measures or coronary artery calcification score=0 was evaluated on Decline in semantic fluency (β=-0.065 SD/y, 95% CI -0.112 to -0.017, p=0.008). Greater baseline atherosclerosis, including higher carotid intima-media thickness, was significantly associated with a faster decline in semantic fluency (β=-0.065 SD/y; P=0.008).
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