HIGHER FLOW VELOCITIES AT BOTH CAROTID AND CEREBRAL ARTERIES WERE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE MIDDLE-AGE INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

Objective: Lower carotid flow velocities were associated with cognitive function in elderly populations, however, this association in middle-aged adults remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between the flow velocity at carotid and cerebral arteries and cognitive function among middle-aged adults. Design and method: A total of 137 adults aged between 30 and 60 years old completed the physical examinations and cognition function evaluation and the measurements of flow velocities at the carotid and middle cerebral arteries (n = 47) in an ongoing study (Cardio Vascular Disease risk FACtors Two-township Study[CVDFACTS]). We used the Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MOCA] to evaluate the cognitive function. The carotid flow velocities at common and internal carotid arteries were measured by Carotid Doppler and the flow velocity at intracranial arteries (middle cerebral vessels) were measured by Trans-Cranial Doppler. Crude and partial correlation were used to evaluate the association between flow velocities and cognitive function. Results: Peak-systolic velocity (r = 0.184, p-value[p] = 0.045), diastolic velocity(r = 0.185, p = 0.044) and mean flow velocity(r = 0.207, p = 0.024) at internal carotid artery (ICA) were significantly associated with MOCA in the multivariable model with adjusting age, sex, education, systolic blood pressure, glucose and lipids. The correlation coefficients (n = 47) between mean flow velocity at the internal carotid artery and at intracranial arteries (middle cerebral vessels) were 0.93 (p-value <. 0001). In addition, higher internal cerebral mean flow was associated with higher cognitive preference (MOCA) (r = 0.41, p = 0.0093) in the model with adjusted for age, sex and education. Conclusions: Flow velocities at the internal carotid artery and at cerebral artery were highly correlated, and those were associated with lower cognitive function in the middle-age population. Carotid flow velocity may be involved the pathogenesis of early cognitive function decline in middle-age.