Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Cognitive Dysfunction, and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The present study sought to evaluate the contribution of cardiovascular risk factors to cognitive functioning in a sample of Mexican Americans diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity were diagnosed based on self-report and/or standardized procedures. Cognitive function was measured with MMSE, Logical Memory I and II, Trail A & B, FAS, animal naming, and digit span tests. Independent samples <i>t</i> tests and two-way ANOVAs were conducted for analyses, adjusting for relevant covariates. We studied 100 Mexican Americans (65 female) with MCI, ages 50–86, from a longitudinal study of cognitive aging conducted at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A difference between subjects with and without obesity and memory scores was shown by <i>t</i> tests. Two-way ANOVAs detected an association between the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes with language measures, diabetes and dyslipidemia with executive function, and diabetes and obesity with memory and language measures. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This study provides additional evidence about the link between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive dysfunction in MCI subjects, and also demonstrated that comorbid risk factors increased the degree of cognitive deficit in many areas, which may indicate a higher risk of developing dementia.

Factors Associated With Mild Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cohort Study

“…In our study, the level of cognitive impairment was influenced by the co-occurrence of diabetes and dyslipidemia and possibly by the association of other cardiovascular risk factors. Vintimilla et al [ 7 ] studied the impact of cardiovascular risk factors on cognitive status in a Mexican cohort of 515 patients using several tests to measure global cognition of the MMSE. They found that when diabetes and dyslipidemia were present, this affected the ability to think, reason, and remember [ 28 ].…”

“…Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) [ 6 ]. The impact of CVRFs, such as diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and hypertension, on cognition exists [ 7 , 8 ]. However, the physiopathology of CVRFs in patients with mild cognitive impairment is still unclear.…”

Cardiovascular Comorbidities and Cognitive Impairment

“…It has been suggested that cardiovascular risk factors like hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are key factors in the development of mild cognitive impairment, and therefore, measures to control these two conditions in primary care should be reinforced to stop the development of dementias [7,8]. A similar study [9] provided additional evidence for the link between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment subjects and demonstrated that comorbid risk factors increased the degree of cognitive deficit, indicating a higher risk of developing dementia.…”

“…Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and vascular dementia are characterized by the aging neurovascular unit facing and failing to cope with biological damages caused by systemic and cerebral vascular disease, proteinopathy including Alzheimer's biology, metabolic disease, or immune response, resulting in cognitive decline [8,9]. Atherosclerosis has been described as a predictor of cognitive impairment [10] and has the potential as a drug target to prevent or delay the onset and progression of dementia in older adults.…”

Intima Media Thickness and Cognitive Function Among Adults: Meta‐Analysis of Observational and Longitudinal Studies

“… 4 , 5 The concept of cognitive decline as a vascular disease is being increasingly accepted, 6 together with the evidence that the early detection and treatment of classical cardiovascular risk factors could reduce the impact of cognitive decline. 7 , 8 , 9 In this framework, the monitoring of subclinical cardiovascular risk markers may have an important role in detecting individuals at risk to develop cognitive impairment 9 and in tracking changes induced by treatments. 10 A number of structural alterations that are an expression of vascular aging, reflecting the integrated burden of known and unknown cardiovascular risk factors on the vasculature, such as large artery stiffness 11 , 12 , 13 and carotid structural changes, 14 , 15 have been associated with a steeper cognitive decline.…”