Aortic pulse wave velocity as a predictor of cognitive decline in older adults

Abstract Background Global aging has caused a demographic transition that has had an effect on health systems all over the world. Together with dementia, cardiovascular disease is a common health concern in older adults and is the first cause of death globally. The contribution of an unhealthy vascular system to the development of dementia has been stated before. Method Using a cross‐sectional analysis, we performed vascular non‐invasive measurements in older adults with (n=101) or without (n=65) detectable cardiovascular disease using a commercial device. All subjects were evaluated for cognitive decline. Results We found 54.83% cognitive impairment in the free‐cardiovascular disease group and 41.58% for the cardiovascular disease group. Aortic pulse wave velocity was significantly higher in patients with cognitive decline (p<0.05) independently of their cardiovascular health. However, a higher wave return velocity (p<0.05) and aortic wave velocity (p<0.05), and a lower augmentation index (p<0.001) was found in older adults with cardiovascular disease compared to cardiovascular disease free subjects. Conclusion Aortic pulse wave velocity is associated with cognitive decline regardless of the presence of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, subjects with cardiovascular disease have higher wave return velocity and aortic wave velocity, and lower aortic pulse wave velocity.