title: Ankle-brachial index as a marker of cognitive impairment and dementia in general population. A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between a low ankle-brachial index (ABI) and several grades of cognitive disorders: cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD), in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a systematic review of the literature, including all prospective, longitudinal or cross-sectional studies assessing both peripheral artery disease (PAD), defined by a low ABI, and cognitive function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  12 publications were included in this review, of whom 6 reported cross-sectional analysis and 6 reported longitudinal analysis. All except one reported a significant association between a low ankle-brachial index and cognitive impairment, dementia or AD. Beyond cognitive impairment, patients with PAD are at an increased risk to develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this review, we confirm that a low (<0.90) ABI can be considered as a marker of cognitive impairment and dementia. ABI provides independent and supplemental information on subject's susceptibility to develop cognitive disorders, along its usefulness to predict cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Given its availability, easiness, safety to patients and low cost, the ABI could be useful in clinical practice and research in the field of cognitive diseases.
authors.affiliation: University of Limoges, IFR 145 GEIST, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, EA3174 NETEC, Faculty of Medicine-2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France. maelenn.guerchet@unilim.fr
authors.forename: Maëlenn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerchet
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aboyans
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nubukpo
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Preux
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011786:Quality Control; D012307:Risk Factors