Cardiovascular Risk Factors Are Correlated with Low Cognitive Function among Older Adults Across Europe Based on The SHARE Database

Abstract

Increased life expectancy is associated with a high prevalence of chronic, non-communicable diseases including cognitive decline and dementia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cognitive impairment using three cognitive abilities (verbal fluency, numeracy and perceived memory) and their association with cardiovascular risk factors in seniors across Europe. Data from participants in wave 4 of the SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe) database was used. Cognitive performance in perceived memory, verbal fluency and numeracy was evaluated using simple tests and a memory complaints questionnaire. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were also studied for potential associations. Standardised prevalence rates of cognitive impairment based on age and gender were calculated by country. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 28.02% for perceived memory, 27.89% for verbal fluency and 20.75% for numeracy throughout the 16 evaluated countries. Years of education, being a current or former smoker, number of chronic diseases, diabetes or hyperglycemia, heart attack and stroke were all independent variables associated with impairment in the three studied cognitive abilities. We also found independent associations between physical inactivity and verbal fluency and numeracy impairment, as well as hypertension and perceived memory impairment. Lower performance in the evaluated cognitive abilities and higher memory complaints are highly prevalent, have a heterogeneous distribution across Europe, and are associated with multiple factors, most of which are potentially preventable or treatable, especially cardiovascular risk factors.

Prevalence of frailty status among the European elderly population: Findings from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe

“…A detailed description of the SHARE data and methodology has been published, and is available to registered users on the SHARE website (http://www.share-project.org). 16…”

“…10,15 The Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) is an international European database containing detailed information about the demographics, health, and social and economic status from representative samples of communitybased populations aged >50 years. 16 This project already has released data from six different waves, from 2004 to 2015, providing excellent opportunities to study frailty across Europe. The last detailed prevalence study published on frailty used data collected in 2004.…”

Age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline — The potential mechanisms linking the two

“…Additionally, a significant association between moderate to severe hearing loss and stroke was observed in older participants in a population-based survey [23]. Vascular risk factors such as atherosclerosis, smoking, and diabetes have an impact on both hearing and cognition [7,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

Systemic milieu and age-related deterioration

“…Cognitive decline is a leading cause of functional impairment worldwide, especially among a rapidly growing aging population (Lourenco et al 2018). However, the aging process easily results in a comprised hippocampus, evidenced by dysregulation of plasticity-related genes and declines in neurogenic activity (Murphy and Thuret 2015;Ashe 2001).…”