INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 08 Program Schedule 02/16/2024 01:45 pm - 03:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 08: Cognition \| Cognitive Reserve Variables Final Abstract #19 Cardiovascular Disorders in Relation to Diagnosis and Timing of Alzheimer’s Dementia Tara Driskill, Texas A&M University, College Station, United States Jessica Helphrey, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States Hannah Cabrera, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States Dr. Christian Lobue, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States Category: Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease) Keyword 1: cardiovascular disease Keyword 2: dementia - Alzheimer's disease Objective: The neurobiological cascade of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) has multiple pathophysiological mechanisms, and some have been linked to reduced blood flow, oxidative stress, and other processes that appear to overlap with cardiovascular disorders (CVD). As such, CVDs may lower the threshold and increase the likelihood of dementia. Because many CVDs are often modifiable, it is important to understand how they relate to diagnosis of AD and timing of symptom onset. This study investigates whether common CVDs (hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation) are predictors for AD diagnosis and are associated with a lower age of onset. Participants and Methods: Data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center was analyzed on individuals aged 55-90 (M=74.53, SD=8.27) clinically diagnosed with AD (N = 39,871) or with normal cognition (N = 78,195). CVDs were coded as being present (within the last year) or absent, and a composite score was created by summing the number of CVDs for each participant. Two separate logistic regressions examined if individual CVDs and then the composite score were significant predictors of an AD diagnosis compared to normal cognition. Among individuals with AD, two linear regressions examined if CVDs and the composite score predicted the age of onset. All models accounted for race, education, sex, and Apolipoprotein E 4 (APOE4) status. Results: Race (83.2% white,16.8% non-white), sex (38.8% male, 61.2% female), education (M=15.58, SD=3.23), and APOE4 status (60.3% with no APOE4, 39.7% with APOE4) were significant predictors for AD diagnosis and timing of onset (p’s <.05). When adjusted for these factors, no individual CVD (hypercholesterolemia p=.11, diabetes p=.37, hypertension p=.35, atrial fibrillation p=.66), or the composite score of total CVD burden (p=.27) significantly predicted AD diagnosis versus normal cognition. Similarly, none of the CVD variables were predictive of age of onset in the AD group (hypercholesterolemia p=.63, diabetes p=.54, hypertension p=.62, atrial fibrillation p=.37, composite score p=.54). Conclusions: Results suggest that in this sample, the presence of CVDs and a composite score of CVD burden, had no relationship with the likelihood of AD diagnosis nor the timing of onset. Since the data was coded only as having a current CVD or not, it is important to consider that concurrent treatments for CVDs in an unknown proportion of individuals may have been moderating factors that could not be accounted for. Therefore, further research is needed to elucidate if treatments for CVDs can modify a potential relationship between certain conditions and AD to induce protective effects.

Poster

02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables

Final Abstract #19

Cardiovascular Disorders in Relation to Diagnosis and Timing of Alzheimer’s Dementia

Tara Driskill, Texas A&M University, College Station, United States
Jessica Helphrey, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Hannah Cabrera, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Dr. Christian Lobue, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States

Category: Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease)

Keyword 1: cardiovascular disease
Keyword 2: dementia - Alzheimer's disease

Objective:

The neurobiological cascade of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) has multiple pathophysiological mechanisms, and some have been linked to reduced blood flow, oxidative stress, and other processes that appear to overlap with cardiovascular disorders (CVD). As such, CVDs may lower the threshold and increase the likelihood of dementia. Because many CVDs are often modifiable, it is important to understand how they relate to diagnosis of AD and timing of symptom onset. This study investigates whether common CVDs (hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation) are predictors for AD diagnosis and are associated with a lower age of onset.

Participants and Methods:

Data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center was analyzed on individuals aged 55-90 (M=74.53, SD=8.27) clinically diagnosed with AD (N = 39,871) or with normal cognition (N = 78,195). CVDs were coded as being present (within the last year) or absent, and a composite score was created by summing the number of CVDs for each participant. Two separate logistic regressions examined if individual CVDs and then the composite score were significant predictors of an AD diagnosis compared to normal cognition. Among individuals with AD, two linear regressions examined if CVDs and the composite score predicted the age of onset. All models accounted for race, education, sex, and Apolipoprotein E 4 (APOE4) status.

Results:

Race (83.2% white,16.8% non-white), sex (38.8% male, 61.2% female), education (M=15.58, SD=3.23), and APOE4 status (60.3% with no APOE4, 39.7% with APOE4) were significant predictors for AD diagnosis and timing of onset (p’s <.05). When adjusted for these factors, no individual CVD (hypercholesterolemia p=.11, diabetes p=.37, hypertension p=.35, atrial fibrillation p=.66), or the composite score of total CVD burden (p=.27) significantly predicted AD diagnosis versus normal cognition. Similarly, none of the CVD variables were predictive of age of onset in the AD group (hypercholesterolemia p=.63, diabetes p=.54, hypertension p=.62, atrial fibrillation p=.37, composite score p=.54).

Conclusions:

Results suggest that in this sample, the presence of CVDs and a composite score of CVD burden, had no relationship with the likelihood of AD diagnosis nor the timing of onset. Since the data was coded only as having a current CVD or not, it is important to consider that concurrent treatments for CVDs in an unknown proportion of individuals may have been moderating factors that could not be accounted for. Therefore, further research is needed to elucidate if treatments for CVDs can modify a potential relationship between certain conditions and AD to induce protective effects.