Cardiovascular risk and midlife cognitive decline in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation

Introduction Cardiovascular risk factors in midlife have been linked to late life risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The relation of vascular risk factors on cognitive decline within midlife has been less studied. Methods Using data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, we examined associations of midlife hypertension, elevated lipid levels, diabetes, fasting glucose, central adiposity, and Framingham heart age with rates of cognitive decline in women who completed multiple cognitive assessments of processing speed, and working and verbal memory during midlife. Results Diabetes, elevated fasting glucose, central obesity, and heart age greater than chronological age were associated with rate of decline in processing speed during midlife. Vascular risk factors were not related to rate of decline in working or verbal memory. Discussion Midlife may be a critical period for intervening on cardiovascular risk factors to prevent or delay later life cognitive impairment and ADRD.

Automated summary

Midlife cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, elevated fasting glucose, central obesity, and heart age greater than chronological age are associated with decline in processing speed, indicating the importance of intervening on these factors in midlife to prevent later life cognitive impairment and ADRD.