Category Ranking

98%

Total Visits

921

Avg Visit Duration

2 minutes

Citations

20

Article Abstract

Objectives: To determine associations between carotid atherosclerosis assessed by ultrasound and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a measure of global cognitive function.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched up to 1 May 2020 to identify studies assessed the associations between asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis and the MMSE. Studies reporting OR for associations between carotid plaque or intima-media thickness (cIMT) and dichotomised MMSE were meta-analysed. Publication bias of included studies was assessed.

Results: A total of 31 of 378 reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria; together they included 27 738 participants (age 35-95 years). Fifteen studies reported some evidence of a positive association between measures of atherosclerosis and poorer cognitive performance in either cross-sectional or longitudinal studies. The remaining 16 studies found no evidence of an association. Seven cross-sectional studies provided data suitable for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of three studies that assessed carotid plaque (n=3549) showed an association between the presence of plaque and impaired MMSE with pooled estimate for the OR (95% CI) being 2.72 (0.85 to 4.59). An association between cIMT and impaired MMSE was reported in six studies (n=4443) with a pooled estimate for the OR (95% CI) being 1.13 (1.04 to 1.22). Heterogeneity across studies was moderate to small (carotid plaque with MMSE, I=40.9%; cIMT with MMSE, I=4.9%). There was evidence of publication bias for carotid plaque studies (p=0.02), but not cIMT studies (p=0.2).

Conclusions: There is some, limited cross-sectional evidence indicating an association between cIMT and poorer global cognitive function assessed with MMSE. Estimates of the association between plaques and poor cognition are too imprecise to draw firm conclusions and evidence from studies of longitudinal associations between carotid atherosclerosis and MMSE is limited.

Prospero Registration Number: CRD42021240077.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9020283PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055131DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

carotid plaque
16
studies
13
associations carotid
12
carotid atherosclerosis
12
mmse
9
carotid
8
cognitive function
8
function assessed
8
mini-mental state
8
systematic review
8

Similar Publications

Objective: The current selection of patients for carotid revascularisation is mainly based on neurological symptoms and the degree of carotid artery stenosis. Individualised MRI based PRediction scOre using plaque Vulnerability for symptomatic carotid artEry disease patients (IMPROVE) can identify high risk patients who may benefit from carotid revascularisation, based on intraplaque haemorrhage, stenosis severity, cerebral symptoms, sex, and age. For use in clinical trials and eventual practice, the decision rule must be acceptable to clinicians.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with inflammatory and immunological mechanisms. Immunotherapy has demonstrated promising efficacy in the management of atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, certain immunotherapeutic approaches are associated with limitations, including suboptimal efficacy and non-negligible adverse effects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) have distinct pathognomonic features, but they frequently co-occur as mixed dementia (MD) in elderly adults. This study aimed to develop a novel MD mouse model using bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) in 5 times familial Alzheimer's disease (5xFAD) transgenic mice and characterize its behavioral and histological features.

Methods: Thirteen C57BL/6 and sixteen 5xFAD transgenic mice were prepared.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Vascular calcification represents ectopic deposition of calcium phosphate in the arterial wall. Component analysis of calcifications using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) has helped to elucidate arteriosclerosis, but reports examining carotid calcified plaque remain lacking. The present study qualitatively evaluated calcifications using DECT in patients with stroke in our institution.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Rationale: Systemic sclerosis (SS) is an immune-mediated connective disease characterized by skin fibrosis, microvascular damage, and multisystem manifestations. One of the most important processes in connective tissue disorders is vasculitis. The clinical findings can differ when the disease is presented with an antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF