The heart-mind connection: exploring the association between cardiovascular health and cognitive performance in older women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2317-0190.v32i2a235057Keywords:
Aging, Heart Disease Risk Factors, Cognition, Dyslipidemias, Lipid Metabolism DisordersAbstract
Objective: To explore the link between cognitive performance and lipid profile in healthy older women with and without cardiovascular risk (CVR). Method: A cross-sectional study with two groups: high CVR (n= 17) and low CVR (n= 43). Main outcome measures: Blood samples were taken after a 12-hour fast. CVR was defined by a triglycerides/HDL-c ratio above 3.5. Participants completed questionnaires assessing emotional and cognitive states, including depression, attention, spatial-temporal orientation, memory, and language interpretation (oral and written). Results: The average age of participants was 65.8 (±4). The high CVR group was older (t= -2.1; p= 0.037; 95%CI= [-4.64 to -0.15]) and had higher glucose (t= -2.4; p= 0.020; 95%CI=[-24 to -2.16]), LDL-c (t= -2.03; p= 0.047; 95%CI= [-39.2 to -0.26]), and triglycerides (t= -8.21; p<0.001; 95%CI=[-126.72 to -67.95]) levels compared to the low CVR group. Those with high CVR performed worse on the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) (t= 2.13; p= 0.038; 95%CI= [0.80 to 2.51]), particularly in orientation, attention, calculation, and recall. No group differences were found in depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Older women with CVR showed poorer cognitive performance overall and in specific domains, highlighting the importance of addressing cardiovascular risk to maintain cognitive health in aging women. These findings stress the need for proactive and targeted interventions to support cognitive function in this population.
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Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Grant numbers 2021/01863-9 -
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Grant numbers 140538/2022-4
