Midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognitive status in relation to prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in later life: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Introduction: The interplay between midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognitive function with later life mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia (DEM) is not well understood.

Methods: In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, cardiovascular risk factors and cognition were assessed in midlife, ages 45-64 years. In 2011-2013, 20-25 years later, all consenting Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities participants underwent a cognitive and neurological evaluation and were given adjudicated diagnoses of cognitively normal, MCI, or DEM.

Results: In 5995 participants with complete covariate data, midlife diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia were associated with late-life MCI and DEM. Low midlife cognition function was also associated with greater likelihood of late-life MCI or DEM. Both midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognitive function remained associated with later life MCI or DEM when both were in the model.

Discussion: Later life MCI and DEM were independently associated with midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognition.