title: Atherosclerosis and dementia: a cross-sectional study with pathological analysis of the carotid arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous ultrasound-based studies have shown an association between carotid artery atherosclerosis and dementia. Our aim was to investigate this association using postmortem examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmortem morphometric measurements of carotid stenosis and intima-media thickness were performed in individuals with dementia (n=112) and control subjects (n=577). Multivariate logistic regression models were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-grade left internal carotid stenosis (≥70%) was associated with increased odds for dementia (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.14-4.74; P=0.02). Intima-media thickness was not associated with dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The likelihood of dementia is increased with high-grade left internal carotid artery atherosclerosis after adjusting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 455, sala 1353, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. cksuemoto@usp.br
authors.forename: Claudia K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Suemoto
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nitrini
authors.forename: Lea T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Grinberg
authors.forename: Renata E L
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Farfel
authors.forename: Renata E P
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Paulo R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fregni
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jacob-Filho
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pasqualucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology