Aortic stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardio- and cerebrovascular disease and mortality and may increase risk of dementia. The aim of the present study is to examine the association between arterial stiffness and cognitive decline in a large prospective cohort study with three repeated cognitive assessment over 7 years of follow-up. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured among 4300 participants (mean ± standard deviation age 65.1 ± 5.2 years) in 2007-2009 and categorized based on the tertiles: (lowest third: < 7.41 m/s), (middle third: 7.41-8.91 m/s), and (highest third: > 8.91 m/s). A global cognitive score was calculated in 2007-2009, 2012-2013, and 2015-2016 based on responses to memory, reasoning and fluency tests. Standardized global cognitive score (mean = 0, SD = 1) in highest third versus lowest third of PWV category was lower at baseline (- 0.12, 95% CI - 0.18, - 0.06). Accelerated 7-year cognitive decline was observed among individuals with the highest PWV [difference in 7-year cognitive change for highest third versus lowest third PWV: - 0.06, 95% CI - 0.11, - 0.01, P < 0.01]. Higher aortic stiffness was associated with faster cognitive decline. Clinicians may be able to use arterial stiffness severity as an indicator to administer prompt treatments to prevent or delay the onset of cognitive decline or dementia. Future studies need to determine whether early intervention of vascular stiffness is effective in delaying these outcomes.

中文翻译：

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主动脉僵硬度与认知能力下降的关联：Whitehall II 纵向队列研究。


主动脉僵硬与心脑血管疾病和死亡风险增加相关，并可能增加痴呆风险。本研究的目的是在一项大型前瞻性队列研究中探讨动脉僵硬度与认知能力下降之间的关联，该研究在 7 年的随访期间进行了 3 次重复的认知评估。 2007-2009 年，测量了 4300 名参与者（平均±标准差，年龄 65.1±5.2 岁）的主动脉脉搏波速度 (PWV)，并根据三分位数进行分类：（最低三分之一：< 7.41 m/s），（中间三分之一： 7.41-8.91 m/s)，以及（最高三分之一：> 8.91 m/s）。根据对记忆、推理和流畅性测试的反应，计算了 2007-2009 年、2012-2013 年和 2015-2016 年的总体认知得分。 PWV 类别最高三分之一与最低三分之一的标准化整体认知评分（平均值 = 0，SD = 1）在基线时较低（- 0.12，95% CI - 0.18，- 0.06）。在 PWV 最高的个体中观察到 7 年认知能力加速下降[第三最高 PWV 与第三最低 PWV 的 7 年认知变化差异：- 0.06，95% CI - 0.11，- 0.01，P < 0.01]。主动脉僵硬度越高，认知能力下降越快。临床医生也许能够使用动脉僵硬度严重程度作为及时进行治疗的指标，以预防或延缓认知能力下降或痴呆的发生。未来的研究需要确定血管僵化的早期干预是否能有效延迟这些结果。