Cardiovascular disease as a mediator in the relationship between lifestyle risk factors and cognitive outcomes: a scoping review.

ABSTRACT: Dementia is a major global health challenge and lifestyle modification is a key prevention strategy. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is hypothesized to mediate lifestyle-dementia relationships, but empirical evidence is unclear. Mediation analysis offers insight into causal mechanisms beyond traditional associations. This scoping review synthesizes the limited available studies applying mediation analysis to examine whether CVD mediates associations between lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol use, diet, physical activity) and cognitive outcomes in adults aged 45 and older. Of 1309 records screened, five studies met the inclusion criteria, reflecting a small, heterogeneous evidence base. Most examined physical activity (n = 4), with two reporting partial mediation by composite CVD risk scores.

SUBMITTER: Hensel ALJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12552895 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature