Circulating non-esterified fatty acids, risk of dementia and cognitive decline: The cardiovascular health study and multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Circulating non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) have toxic effects on a variety of organs central to cardiometabolic disease and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Whether NEFAs associate with cognitive decline or dementia remains unknown. Circulating total NEFA levels were measured in 3242 participants without dementia among older adults of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and related to adjudicated dementia over 6 years (n = 456 cases) and annually assessed cognitive decline. For confirmation, we related circulating NEFAs to cognition assessed 10 years later among 4361 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). In CHS participants, each SD higher NEFA levels were associated with a hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause dementia of 1.11 (95 % CI: 1.01; 1.22). Baseline NEFA levels were also associated with more rapid decline in cognition over 6 years of follow-up. In MESA, circulating NEFA measurements were associated with lower cognitive scores measured 10 years later.’