Hypertension: Relationship between atherosclerosis and Cognitive Function

The potential mechanisms of cognitive impairment are not fully known, but may be related to arterial stiffness and microvascular dysfunctionIn a recent study published in the population-based Maastricht study, researchers investigated the association between arterial stiffness and cognitive ability and assessed whether the association was linked to microvascular dysfunctionresearchers included cross-sectional data from 2,544 participants (age 59.7 years; 51.0% male; 26.0% for type 2 diabetes) using cervical pulse wave velocity and cervical artery dilatedity coefficients as measures of aortic and cervical arterial stiffness, respectivelyThe researchers calculated the plasma biomarkers of albumin urination, and microvascular dysfunction based on magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of cerebrovascular disease, flickering light-induced retinal arteries and venous dilation reactions, albumin urination, and micro-functional dysfunction of microvascular dysfunction (sICAM-1 ( soluble intercellular adhesion molecules-1), sVCAM-1 , sE-selectors , soluble E-selectors, and WFvCognitive areas assessed include memory, processing speed, and executive functionCognitive performance scores are calculated based on averages in these areashigher aortic stiffness (m/s) and lower cognitive function (beta -0.018 SD (95% CI is -0.036 to -0.000) and is independent of age, sex, education and cardiovascular risk factors, but higher cervical aorta stiffness is notHigher aortic stiffness (m/s) was associated with a higher microvascular dysfunction score (beta 0.034 SD (95% CI 0.014 to 0.053), while higher microvascular dysfunction score (per SD) was associated with lower cognitive function (beta -0.089 SD (95% CI is -0.124 to -0.053)Microvascular dysfunction explains 16.2% of the total effect of aortic stiffness on cognitive functionshows that aortic stiffness, rather than cervical stiffness, is associated with poor cognitive performance, and this association can be explained in part by microvascular dysfunction