Higher carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was associated with lower memory scores (standardized β -0.071; P=0.002), an effect partially mediated by cerebral microvascular remodeling and damage.
Observational (n=1,820)
Is the association between aortic stiffness and memory mediated by cerebrovascular remodeling and parenchymal small vessel disease damage in older adults?
Aortic stiffness is associated with lower memory scores in older adults, an effect that is substantially mediated by cerebral microvascular remodeling and parenchymal damage.
Effect estimate: standardized β -0.071
p-value: p=0.002
Aortic stiffness is associated with cognitive decline. Here, we examined the association between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and cognitive function and investigated whether cerebrovascular remodeling and parenchymal small vessel disease damage mediate the relation. Analyses were based on 1820 (60% women) participants in the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study. Multivariable linear regression models adjusted for vascular and demographic confounders showed that higher carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was related to lower memory score (standardized β: -0.071±0.023; P=0.002). Cerebrovascular resistance and white matter hyperintensities were each associated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and memory (P<0.05). Together, cerebrovascular resistance and white matter hyperintensities (total indirect effect: -0.029; 95% CI, -0.043 to -0.017) attenuated the direct relation between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and memory (direct effect: -0.042; 95% CI, -0.087 to 0.003; P=0.07) and explained ≈41% of the observed effect. Our results suggest that in older adults, associations between aortic stiffness and memory are mediated by pathways that include cerebral microvascular remodeling and microvascular parenchymal damage.
Cooper et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Cognitive decline (n=1,820). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was evaluated on Memory score (standardized β -0.071, p=0.002). Higher carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was associated with lower memory scores (standardized β -0.071; P=0.002), an effect partially mediated by cerebral microvascular remodeling and damage.