Highlights
- •Arterial stiffness is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia.
- •The course of arterial damage is sexually dimorphic.
- •Sex may moderate the association between arterial stiffness and cognitive function.
- •The effect of arterial stiffness on cognition may be stronger in males than females.
- •These results support sex-specific mechanisms in the evolution of cognitive aging.
Abstract
Objective
To examine potential sex differences in the relationship between arterial stiffness
and global cognitive function and executive functions.
Methods
Baseline data from 80 older adults were included from two randomized controlled trials
(NCT02669394 and NCT02737878). Arterial stiffness was measured by carotid-femoral
pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV). Cognitive function assessment included global cognition
(Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) and executive functions (set shifting [Trail
Making Test Part B minus A], inhibition [Stroop Test], and working memory [Verbal
Digit Span Backwards Test]). Separate statistical models were constructed to assess
the effect of cf-PWV on each cognitive outcome for females and males. Each statistical
model controlled for Framingham cardiovascular disease risk score and education.
Results
Higher cf-PWV was associated with impaired MMSE performance in males (β = -0.48; p = 0.018), but not females (p ≥ 0.389). For executive processes, higher cf-PWV was associated with impaired Trail
Making Test Part B minus A (β = 0.56; p = 0.005) and Stroop Test (β = 0.59; p = 0.004) in males, but not in females (ps ≥ 0.108). cf-PWV was not significantly associated with Verbal Digit Span Forward
minus Backward Test in males or females (ps ≥ 0.108).
Conclusions
Arterial stiffness is more strongly associated with cognitive impairment in males
than females. These results further elucidate the interplay between vascular health
and cognitive function by providing support for sex-specific mechanisms.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 26, 2021
Accepted:
October 8,
2021
Received in revised form:
September 30,
2021
Received:
June 22,
2021
Footnotes
This work was performed at the University of British Columbia, Department of Physical Therapy.
Identification
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106175
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
