In an older-age vascular cohort, carotid stenosis is associated with processing speed and executive function cognitive deficits, which correlate with p-tau217.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Asymptomatic extracranial carotid atherosclerotic disease (aECAD) has been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the earliest cognitive deficits in this hallmark vascular population are largely unknown.

Methods

A total of 182 participants 50-85 years of age with ≥2 vascular comorbidities with/without aECAD were evaluated prospectively using a neurocognitive battery and compared to vascular comorbidities, percent stenosis, apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status, and plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau217). Dementia, stroke < 6 months, and neurological disorders were exclusionary.

Results

aECAD was associated with significantly worse scores in processing speed (β = -0.19, p = 0.004) and executive function (β = -0.20, p = 0.009) domains after controlling for

SUBMITTER: Zahra S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12623130 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature