Cognitive function and cardiovascular health in the elderly: network analysis based on hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and coronary heart disease

• Published in: Frontiers in aging neuroscience Vol. 15; p. 1229559
• Main Authors: Wang, Yucheng, Zhang, Huanrui, Liu, Linzi, Li, Zijia, Zhou, Yang, Wei, Jiayan, Xu, Yixiao, Zhou, Yifang, Tang, Yanqing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Frontiers Research Foundation 04.08.2023; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: aging; Alzheimer's disease; Brain research; Cardiovascular disease; Cerebrovascular disease; Cerebrovascular diseases; Cognitive ability; cognitive domains; Coronary artery disease; Coronary vessels; Dementia; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Disease prevention; Heart diseases; Hypertension; Ising model; Mental disorders; Missing data; network analysis; Neuroscience; Older people; Research methodology; Risk factors; Software; Structure-function relationships; Variables; vascular factors; Vein & artery diseases; China
• ISSN: 1663-4365; 1663-4365
• DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1229559

Introduction Cognitive decline in the elderly population is a growing concern, and vascular factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and coronary heart disease, have been associated with cognitive impairments. This study aims to provide deeper insights into the structure of cognitive function networks under these different vascular factors and explore their potential associations with specific cognitive domains. Methods Cognitive function was assessed using a modified Chinese version of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scale, and intensity centrality and side weights were estimated by network modeling. The network structure of cognitive function was compared across subgroups by including vascular factors as subgroup variables while controlling for comorbidities and confounders. Results The results revealed that cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease had a more significant impact on cognitive function. Cerebrovascular disease was associated with weaker centrality in memory and spatial orientation, and a sparser cognitive network structure. Coronary heart disease was associated with weaker centrality in memory, repetition, executive function, recall, attention, and calculation, as well as a sparser cognitive network structure. The NCT analyses further highlighted significant differences between the cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease groups compared to controls in terms of overall network structure and connection strength. Conclusion Our findings suggest that specific cognitive domains may be more vulnerable to impairments in patients with cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease. These insights could be used to improve the accuracy and sensitivity of cognitive screening in these patient populations, inform personalized cognitive intervention strategies, and provide a better understanding of the potential mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in patients with vascular diseases.