Introduction
Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) significantly contributes to dementia alongside Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is primary etiology driving Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI). Preventing VCI requires understanding lifelong factors influencing its progression or potential reversal. This study’s primary goal was to use the new updated VASCOG-2 criteria for VCI and identify predictors in a longitudinal population-based sample with neuroimaging, plasma, and cognitive data. We also investigated sex-specific differences and the impact of AD pathology.
Methods
We selected 932 participants aged ≥50 with brain MRIs and cognitive testing from Mayo Clinic Study of Aging who had cognitive impairment (CI) based on criteria below. We classified CI into VCI negative/positive (VCI-/+) using the updated VASCOG-2 criteria, finalized in June 2024, incorporating white-matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and cognitive measures. Global cognition (z-global) was measured by averaging domain-specific z-scores for memory, language, attention, and visuospatial skills. Analyses were age- and sex- adjusted ANCOVA.
Results
Three groups were identified. VCI- included 391 CI (z-global ≤1.0) without CVD (WMH% <1.3, no clinical stroke) (mean age 79.6±7.3 years, 41% female). Prevalent VCI+ (PVCI+) included 369 CI (z-global >1.0) with CVD (clinical stroke or WMH% ≥1.3) at the first scan (mean age 82.6±5.6 years, 50% female). Incident VCI+ (IVCI+) included 172 who had CI and significant CVD during the visit but were not positive for both in a previous visit (mean age 84.0±5.1 years, 38% female). Differences between the three groups emerged in relation to sex, cardiometabolic comorbidities—particularly diabetes and hypertension—, late-life cognitive activities, excessive sleepiness, lipids levels (total and LDL-cholesterol), and abnormal amyloid PET SUVR.
Conclusions
Cardiometabolic comorbidities, lipids metabolism, and late-life engagement may be key predictors for VCI. Further investigation into sex-specific differences and the modifying role of AD co-pathology are needed.
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