Abstract 15875: Poorer Arterial Compliance is Associated With Decreased Cognitive Function: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pathological arterial stiffness has been linked to lower cognitive function (CF) in the elderly. However, information is scarce on the association between poorer arterial compliance and decreased cognitive function among middle-aged adults and whether sex and/or race modify this association. We explored this observation among noninstitutionalized individuals living in a rural community. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis considered 1,228 adult participants of the Bogalusa Heart Study (mean age 48.2 ± 5.3 years, 57.6% female, 33.1% Black) that completed standardized neuropsychological (NP) assessments to evaluate CF and non-invasive pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measurements to explore arterial compliance. CF was expressed as a global cognitive score (GCS). GCS and PVW were divided into quartiles, and multivariable-adjusted binary logistic regression models were employed to determine the association between the upper quartile (Q4) of PVW (poorer compliance) and the lower quartile (Q1) of GCS (decreased cognitive function), controlling for traditional CMRF, education and depression status. Race, sex, and PWV interactions were tested to explore effect modification. Results: In contrast to their counterparts, Blacks and males had lower GCS (p<0.001); whereas PVW was higher among Blacks and males (p<0.01). Following a significant sex*PVW interaction term, sex-specific models yielded a significant independent association between Q4 PVW and Q1 GCS (OR: 1.9, 95%CI: 1.2-3.1, p<0.01) in males only. Race did not modify this association. Conclusion: Poorer arterial compliance is associated with decreased cognitive function during midlife in males but not females. These findings underscore the need to introduce patient-centered, early management strategies to control arterial compliance, potentially considering a sex-specific approach, even in the absence of overt hypertension, to lower the risk of cognitive impairment typically associated with aging.