Heart Disease Triples Risk of Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment represents a key diagnostic/prognostic threshold for dementia. Impairment associated with memory loss (amnestic) has been hypothesized as having a predilection toward progression to Alzheimer's disease. In contrast, non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment may preferentially progress to vascular and other types of dementia unrelated to Alzheimer's disease, according to the authors' background information. Rosebud O. Roberts, from Mayo Clinic (Minnesota, USA), and colleagues investigated the association of cardiac disease with amnestic and nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment.  Using a prospective, population-based, cohort study with a median 4.0 years of follow-up, the researchers enrolled a total of 2,719 participants, who were evaluated at baseline and every 15 months via standardized neurocognitive scales.  A diagnosis of normal cognition, MCI, or dementia was made by consensus. Cardiac disease at baseline was assessed from the participant's medical records.  Of 1,450 participants without mild cognitive impairment or dementia at baseline, 366 developed mild cognitive impairment. Cardiac disease was associated with an increased risk of non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment, among women subjects.