title: Metabolic syndrome and the risk of vascular dementia: the Italian Longitudinal Study on Ageing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors investigated the relationship of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components with incident dementia in a prospective population-based study with a 3.5-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2097 participants from a sample of 5632 subjects (65-84 years old) from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Ageing were evaluated. MetS was defined according to the Third Adults Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. Dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) were classified using current published criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MetS subjects (N=918) compared with those without MetS (N=1179) had an increased risk for VaD (1.63% vs 0.85%, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.71, 95% CI 1.40 to 9.83). After excluding 338 subjects with baseline undernutrition, MetS subjects compared with those without MetS had an elevated risk of VaD (adjusted HR, 3.82; 95% CI 1.32 to 11.06). Moreover, those with MetS and high inflammation had a still further higher risk of VaD (multivariate adjusted HR, 9.55; 95% CI 1.17 to 78.17) compared with those without MetS and high inflammation. On the other hand, those with MetS and low inflammation compared with those without MetS and low inflammation did not exhibit a significant increased risk of VaD (adjusted HR, 3.31, 95% CI 0.91 to 12.14). Finally, a synergistic MetS effect versus its individual component effects was verified on the risk of VaD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our population, MetS subjects had an elevated risk of VaD that increased after excluding patients with baseline undernutrition and selecting MetS subjects with high inflammation.
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Center for Ageing Brain, Memory Unit, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11-70124 Bari, Italy. v.solfrizzi@geriatria.uniba.it
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Solfrizzi
authors: Emanuele
authors: E
authors: Scafato
authors: Cristiano
authors: C
authors: Capurso
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: D'Introno
authors: Anna Maria
authors: AM
authors: Colacicco
authors: Vincenza
authors: V
authors: Frisardi
authors: Gianluigi
authors: G
authors: Vendemiale
authors: Marzia
authors: M
authors: Baldereschi
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Crepaldi
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Di Carlo
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Galluzzo
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Gandin
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Inzitari
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Maggi
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Capurso
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Panza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors