Table 3. Associations between aortic PWV and global brain and cognitive outcomes.
| Model 1: Phase 9 PWV (m/s) | Model 2: ΔPWV (m/s/y) | Model 3: Phase 11 PWV (m/s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B [95% CI] | p | B [95% CI] | p | B [95% CI] | p | |
| 1. Brain structure (N = 542) | ||||||
| FA [× 103] | −0.90 [−1.90, 0.09] | 0.08 | −5.65 [−9.75, −1.54] | 0.007* | −1.12 [−1.95, −0.29] | 0.009* |
| MD [× 106] | 1.19 [−0.19, 2.57] | 0.09 | 5.66 [−0.06, 11.38] | 0.05 | 1.22 [0.06, 2.38] | 0.04 |
| RD [× 106] | 1.39 [−0.10, 2.88] | 0.07 | 7.50 [1.36, 13.64] | 0.017 | 1.56 [0.32, 2.81] | 0.014 |
| AD [× 106] | 0.79 [−0.54, 2.12] | 0.25 | 1.97 [−3.56, 7.50] | 0.48 | 0.54 [−0.59, 1.66] | 0.35 |
| GM (%ICV) | −0.06 [−0.27, 0.16] | 0.60 | −0.41 [−1.30, 0.48] | 0.37 | −0.09 [−0.27, 0.09] | 0.32 |
| WML (%ICV, N = 533) | 0.001 [−0.02, 0.02] | 0.91 | 0.03 [−0.04, 0.10] | 0.39 | 0.002 [−0.01, 0.02] | 0.78 |
| 2. CBF (ml/100 g/min, N = 112) | ||||||
| Frontal lobe | 0.59 [−1.14, 2.32] | 0.50 | −10.85 [−17.91, −3.79] | 0.003* | −1.05 [−2.43, 0.33] | 0.14 |
| Temporal lobe | 0.61 [−0.80, 2.01] | 0.39 | −7.14 [−12.94, −1.35] | 0.016 | −0.42 [−1.55, 0.72] | 0.47 |
| Parietal lobe | 0.50 [−1.65, 2.66] | 0.65 | −12.75 [−21.58, −3.91] | 0.005* | −1.28 [−3.00, 0.45] | 0.15 |
| Occipital lobe | 0.61 [−1.94, 3.17] | 0.64 | −13.30 [−23.87, −2.73] | 0.014 | −1.41 [−3.43, 0.62] | 0.17 |
| 3. Cognitive performance (N = 537) | ||||||
| Semantic fluency | −0.47 [−0.76, −0.18] | 0.001* | 0.89 [−0.32, 2.11] | 0.15 | −0.12 [−0.37, 0.12] | 0.32 |
| Verbal learning | −0.36 [−0.60, −0.12] | 0.003* | 0.44 [−0.55, 1.43] | 0.38 | −0.10 [−0.30, 0.10] | 0.33 |
| Delayed verbal recall | −0.11 [−0.25, 0.03] | 0.11 | 0.18 [−0.40, 0.77] | 0.54 | −0.01 [−0.13, 0.11] | 0.91 |
| Short-term memory (digit span) | −0.03 [−0.33, 0.28] | 0.86 | −0.19 [−1.46, 1.08] | 0.77 | −0.08 [−0.34, 0.17] | 0.52 |
| Executive function (trail making) | −0.001 [−0.03, 0.02] | 0.91 | −0.01 [−1.11, 0.09] | 0.84 | −0.002 [−0.02, 0.02] | 0.85 |
| Executive function (digit substitution) | −0.33 [−1.04, 0.39] | 0.37 | 1.54 [−1.42, 4.50] | 0.31 | −0.05 [−0.66, 0.55] | 0.86 |
| Global cognition (MoCA) | −0.12 [−0.24, −0.01] | 0.04 | −0.08 [−0.57, 0.41] | 0.75 | −0.07 [−0.17, 0.03] | 0.17 |
Models 1 and 3 were adjusted for age, MAP, BMI, and antihypertensive use at the respective phase (9 or 11), years from the respective phase to the MRI scan and scanner model, sex, education, and socioeconomic grade. Model 2 was adjusted for the aforementioned covariates as well as Phase 9 PWV and years from P11 to MRI to examine the unique contribution of rate of stiffening (regardless of baseline). Unstandardised B coefficients (B) and 95% CIs are reported, representing mean change in outcome per 1 m/s increase in PWV (for Models 1 and 3) and per 1m/s/year increase in rate of change of PWV (for Model 2). GM volume and WMLs are expressed as percentages of ICV; CBF is expressed in ml/100 g tissue/min; PWV in m/s, ΔPWV in m/s/year. FA values were multiplied by 103 and RD, MD, AD values by 106.
* indicates associations which survive post hoc Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons.
AD, axial diffusivity; BMI, body mass index; CBF, cerebral blood flow; CI, confidence interval; FA, fractional anisotropy; GM, grey matter; ICV, intracranial volume; MAP, mean arterial pressure; MD, mean diffusivity; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PWV, pulse wave velocity; RD, radial diffusivity; WML, white matter lesions.