title: Composite cardiovascular risk scores and neuropsychological functioning: a meta-analytic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ability for patients to understand their risk for disease is important to early intervention and effective treatment. The link between individual cardiovascular risk factors and cognition has been well-established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the relationship between cognition and a combination of these factors through a single composite risk score.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study quantitatively summarized the strength of the association between composite cardiovascular risk scores and cognitive test performance using meta-analytic methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and nine effect sizes were obtained from 19 studies employing 54,564 participants. Composite risk scores showed a significant association (r=-0.16) with cognitive test performance. Cognitive domain and age did not significantly modify this relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Composite cardiovascular risk scores can be useful indicators of future cognition. The development of a dementia risk score using similar risk factors could aid in the assessment and lifestyle interventions of persons at risk for dementia.
authors.affiliation: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA, jderight@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeRight
authors.forename: Randall S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: Misaell J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cabral
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment