Distinct components of cardiovascular health are linked with age-related differences in cognitive abilities

King, Deborah L.O.; Henson, Richard N.; Kievit, Rogier; Wolpe, Noham; Brayne, Carol; Tyler, Lorraine K.; Rowe, James B.; Bullmore, Edward T.; Calder, Andrew C.; Cusack, Rhodri; Dalgleish, Tim; Duncan, John; Matthews, Fiona E.; Marslen-Wilson, William D.; Shafto, Meredith A.; Campbell, Karen; Cheung, Teresa; Davis, Simon; Geerligs, Linda; McCarrey, Anna; Mustafa, Abdur; Price, Darren; Samu, David; Taylor, Jason R.; Treder, Matthias; van Belle, Janna; Williams, Nitin; Mitchell, Daniel; Fisher, Simon; Eising, Else; Knights, Ethan; Bates, Lauren; Emery, Tina; Erzinçlioglu, Sharon; Gadie, Andrew; Gerbase, Sofia; Georgieva, Stanimira; Hanley, Claire; Parkin, Beth; Troy, David; Auer, Tibor; Correia, Marta; Gao, Lu; Green, Emma; Henriques, Rafael; Allen, Jodie; Amery, Gillian; Amuntse, Liana; Barcroft, Anne; Castle, Amanda; Dias, Cheryl; Dowrick, Jonathan; Fair, Melissa; Fisher, Hayley; Goulding, Anna; Grewale, Adarsh; Hale, Geoff; Hilton, Andrew; Johnson, Frances; Johnston, Patricia; Kavanagh...

Abstract

Cardiovascular ageing contributes to cognitive impairment. However, the unique and synergistic contributions of multiple cardiovascular factors to cognitive function remain unclear because they are often condensed into a single composite score or examined in isolation. We hypothesized that vascular risk factors, electrocardiographic features and blood pressure indices reveal multiple latent vascular factors, with independent contributions to cognition. In a population-based deep-phenotyping study (n = 708, age 18–88), path analysis revealed three latent vascular factors dissociating the autonomic nervous system response from two components of blood pressure. These three factors made unique and additive contributions to the variability in crystallized and fluid intelligence. The discrepancy in fluid relative to crystallized intelligence, indicative of cognitive decline, was associated with a latent vascular factor predominantly expressing pulse pressure. This suggests that higher pulse pressure is associated with cognitive decline from expected performance. The effect was stronger in older adults. Controlling pulse pressure may help to preserve cognition, particularly in older adults. Our findings highlight the need to better understand the multifactorial nature of vascular aging.

Citation

King, D. L., Henson, R. N., Kievit, R., Wolpe, N., Brayne, C., Tyler, L. K., …Tsvetanov, K. A. (2023). Distinct components of cardiovascular health are linked with age-related differences in cognitive abilities. Scientific reports, 13(1), Article 978. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27252-1

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 28, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 18, 2023
• Publication Date: Jan 18, 2023
• Deposit Date: Mar 29, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 2, 2024
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Print ISSN: 2045-2322
• Electronic ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 978
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27252-1
• Keywords: Cardiovascular biology; Cognitive ageing; Risk factors
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4450675