Arterial calcification in the heart-brain axis and cognitive performance over time.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While cross-sectional studies suggest a link between arteriosclerosis and cognition, longitudinal research is lacking. We investigated how arteriosclerosis in the heart-brain axis is related to cognitive performance trajectories over time.

Methods

Within the population-based Rotterdam Study, 2368 participants underwent noncontrast CT to quantify arterial calcification, a hallmark of arteriosclerosis, in five major arteries in the heart-brain axis. Following this scan, participants underwent repeated cognitive testing. The association between baseline calcification and longitudinal cognitive test performance was investigated using mixed models.

Results

Higher calcification was associated with worse baseline cognitive performance across domains (e.g., β for g

SUBMITTER: Streiber AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11782186 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature