The Relationship Between Signs of Cardiovascular Deficiency and Cognitive Performance in Old Age: A Population-Based Study

Abstract

The influence of cardiovascular signs (CVS) on cognitive performance was examined in 227 older adults not suffering from dementia between 75 and 96 years of age who were sampled from the community. Participants received a comprehensive physical examination that included specific evaluation of current CVS, including dyspnea, cardiac murmur, and edema in lower limbs. They were administered tests of digit span, episodic recall and recognition, verbal fluency, and visuospatial skill. CVS were found to predict performance on tests of episodic memory and visuospatial skill, after the effects of age, education, gender, relevant drug use, and mood symptoms were controlled for. Although CVS accounted for relatively little general performance variation, the findings are relevant to the understanding of normal variation in late-life cognitive performance. Finally, CVS increased with age and accounted for a sizable proportion of the age-related cognitive variation.

Effect of telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide vs lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide combination on ambulatory blood pressure and cognitive function in elderly hypertensive patients

“…Since episodic memory and visuospatial skills reflect the operation of networks that are widely distributed in the brain, their biological complexity makes them more sensitive to numerous conditions affecting brain function. [42][43][44] Unlike episodic memory, memory span is relatively well preserved in many conditions affecting cognitive function, 45 so that it might be difficult to detect any treatment effect on memory span in otherwise healthy hypertensive patients, at least over a relatively short period. The positive effects of telmisartan/HCTZ on memory might be explained by the interactions between Ang II and acethylcoline.…”

Race Differences in Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults

“…Social correlates.-Education shapes lifestyles and occupational opportunities, serving as the main social correlate through which race influences cognitive functioning. Education was measured as a self-report of the number of years of schooling, a measure consistent with much of the research on cognitive functioning (Fahlander et al, 2000;Herzog & Wallace, 1997;Ofstedal et al, 1999). We grouped the work experience of respondents into regular work in professional occupations (coded as 1) compared to work in nonprofessional occupations or nonparticipation in the labor force (coded as 0).…”

“…Different types of vascular conditions have potential effects on cognitive functioning: hypertension or high blood pressure, diabetes, any heart condition, and stroke (Fahlander et al, 2000;Ofstedal et al, 1999). Because having a stroke is a relatively strong predictor of cognitive functioning (Ofstedal et al, 1999), stroke was examined separately.…”

A Preclinical Phase in Vascular Dementia: Cognitive Impairment Three Years before Diagnosis

“…First, many of the pathological signs of VaD may be independently related to deficits in cognitive functioning. For example, cardiovascular signs (cardiac murmur, dyspnea and edema of the lower limbs) have been linked to deficits in episodic memory, verbal fluency, and visuospatial abilities [11]. Similarly, hypertension has been related to deficits in Jones/Jonsson Laukka/Small/Fratiglioni/ Bäckman multiple cognitive domains [12,13], although the findings have not been consistent across studies [14,15].…”

“…Yet, there are several reasons why cognitive deficits may be expected also before the VaD diagnosis. First, given that risk factors for VaD may be present several years before the onset of dementia [11][12][13], one or several strokes may be the endpoint rather than the sole cause of the dementia disorder [27]. Subtle changes in blood vessels, and hence the circulatory system, may have an adverse effect on cognitive abilities many years before a diagnosis could be rendered [28].…”