Abstract
Introduction: Cardiovascular risk factors in midlife have been linked to late life risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The relation of vascular risk factors on cognitive decline within midlife has been less studied. Methods: Using data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, we examined associations of midlife hypertension, elevated lipid levels, diabetes, fasting glucose, central adiposity, and Framingham heart age with rates of cognitive decline in women who completed multiple cognitive assessments of processing speed, and working and verbal memory during midlife. Results: Diabetes, elevated fasting glucose, central obesity, and heart age greater than chronological age were associated with rate of decline in processing speed during midlife. Vascular risk factors were not related to rate of decline in working or verbal memory. Discussion: Midlife may be a critical period for intervening on cardiovascular risk factors to prevent or delay later life cognitive impairment and ADRD.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1342-1352 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Alzheimer's and Dementia |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This publication was supported in part by the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through UCSF‐CTSI Grant Number UL1 RR024131.
Funding Information:
The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) has grant support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)l DHHS, through the National Institute on Aging (NIA)l the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH; Grants U01NR004061, U01AG012505, U01AG012535, U01AG012531, U01AG012539, U01AG012546, U01AG012553, U01AG012554, U01AG012495), and U19AG063720.
Funding Information:
The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) has grant support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)l DHHS, through the National Institute on Aging (NIA)l the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH; Grants U01NR004061, U01AG012505, U01AG012535, U01AG012531, U01AG012539, U01AG012546, U01AG012553, U01AG012554, U01AG012495), and U19AG063720. This publication was supported in part by the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through UCSF-CTSI Grant Number UL1 RR024131. The content of this manuscript is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIA, NINR, ORWH, or the NIH. Clinical Centers: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor—Siobán Harlow, PI 2011–present, MaryFran Sowers, PI 1994–2011; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA—Sherri-Ann Burnett-Bowie, PI 2020-present; Joel Finkelstein, PI 1999–2020; Robert Neer, PI 1994–1999; Rush University, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL—Imke Janssen, PI 2020-present; Howard Kravitz, PI 2009–2020; Lynda Powell, PI 1994–2009; University of California, Davis/Kaiser—Elaine Waetjen and Monique Hedderson, PIs 2020-present; Ellen Gold, PI 1994-2020; University of California, Los Angeles—Arun Karlamangla PI 2020-present; Gail Greendale, PI 1994-2020; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY—Carol Derby, PI 2011–present, Rachel Wildman, PI 2010–2011; Nanette Santoro, PI 2004–2010; University of Medicine and Dentistry—New Jersey Medical School, Newark—Gerson Weiss, PI 1994–2004; and the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA—Rebecca Thurston, PI 2020-present; Karen Matthews, PI 1994-2020. NIH Program Office: National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD—Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo 2020-present; Chhanda Dutta 2016–present; Winifred Rossi 2012–2016; Sherry Sherman 1994–2012; Marcia Ory 1994–2001; National Institute of Nursing Research, Bethesda, MD– Program Officers. Central Laboratory: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor–Daniel McConnell (Central Ligand Assay Satellite Services). Coordinating Center: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA—Maria Mori Brooks, PI 2012–present; Kim Sutton-Tyrrell, PI 2001–2012; New England Research Institutes, Watertown, MA—Sonja McKinlay, PI 1995–2001. Steering Committee: Susan Johnson, Current Chair Chris Gallagher, Former Chair We thank the study staff at each site and all the women who participated in SWAN.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 the Alzheimer's Association
Keywords
- cardiovascular risk
- cognitive decline
- midlife
- women
