Relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive function in elderly subjects with complaints of memory loss.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive function in a population of elderly subjects reporting memory loss.


METHODS
We studied the association between cognitive function and arterial stiffness in 308 consecutive elderly subjects attending a geriatric outpatient clinic reporting memory impairment. Subjects were classified into 4 categories according to neuropsychological evaluation: normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer disease (AD), or vascular dementia (VaD). Arterial stiffness was evaluated by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement using Complior.


RESULTS
In this population, 78+/-8 years of age (women 64%), AD was present in 41%, VaD in 6%, MCI in 27%, and 26% of subjects had normal cognitive function. After adjustment for age, gender, systolic blood pressure, education level, cardiovascular diseases, and antihypertensive therapy, a significant association was observed between PWV and cognitive status (P<0.0001). PWV appears significantly higher in subjects with VaD (15.2+/-3.9 m/s) or AD (13.3+/-2.9 m/s) than in those without cognitive impairment (11.5+/-2.0 m/s; P<0.001). Moreover, PWV was higher in subjects with MCI (12.6+/-2.6 m/s) than in those without cognitive impairment (11.5+/-2.0 m/s; P=0.01). For each 2 m/s increment in PWV, the adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) was 1.73 (1.27 to 2.47) for AD and 3.52 (1.87 to 8.05) for VaD.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed a relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive impairment, suggesting that functional changes of the arterial system could be involved in the onset of dementia (VaD or AD types).
Hanon
Olivier
O
Université Paris-Descartes, Department of Geriatrics, Hôpital Broca, Paris, France. olivier.hanon@brc.ap-hop-paris.fr
Haulon
Sylvie
S
Lenoir
Hermine
H
Seux
Marie-Laure
ML
Rigaud
Anne-Sophie
AS
Safar
Michel
M
Girerd
Xavier
X
Forette
Françoise
F
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance