The paper aimed to compare how factors previously identified as predictive factors for cognitive decline and dementia related to cognitive performance on the one hand and brain health on the other. To that aim, multiple linear regression was applied to the AGES-Reykjavik study epidemiological data. Additionally, a regression analysis was performed for change in cognition over 5 years, using the same exposure factors. The study ran from 2002 to 2011, and the sample analyzed included 1707 participants between the ages of 66 and 90. The data contains MR imaging, cognitive testing, background data, and physiological measurements. Overall, we conclude that risk factors linked to dementia relate differently to cognition and brain health. Mobility, physical strength, alcohol consumption, coronary artery disease, and hypertension were associated with cognition and brain volume. Smoking, depression, diabetes, and body fat percentage were only associated with brain volume, not cognitive performance. Modifiable factors previously linked to cognitive reserve, such as educational attainment, participation in leisure activities, multilingualism and good self-reported health, were associated with cognitive function but did not relate to brain volume. These findings show that, within the same participant pool, cognitive reserve proxy variables have a relationship with cognitive performance but have no association with relative brain volume measured simultaneously.

该论文旨在比较先前被认为是认知能力下降和痴呆症预测因素的因素，一方面与认知表现相关，另一方面与大脑健康相关。为此，将多元线性回归应用于 AGES-雷克雅未克研究流行病学数据。此外，使用相同的暴露因素对 5 年来的认知变化进行了回归分析。该研究从 2002 年持续到 2011 年，分析的样本包括 1707 名年龄在 66 岁到 90 岁之间的参与者。数据包含 MR 成像、认知测试、背景数据和生理测量。总体而言，我们得出的结论是，与痴呆症相关的危险因素与认知和大脑健康的关系不同。活动能力、体力、饮酒、冠状动脉疾病和高血压与认知和脑容量相关。吸烟、抑郁、糖尿病和体脂百分比仅与脑容量相关，与认知能力无关。以前与认知储备相关的可修改因素，如教育程度、参与休闲活动、多语言能力和良好的自我报告健康状况，与认知功能相关，但与脑容量无关。这些发现表明，在同一参与者群体中，认知储备代理变量与认知表现有关，但与同时测量的相对脑容量无关。