Midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognitive status in relation to prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in later life: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Introduction: The interplay between midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognitive function with later life mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia (DEM) is not well understood. Methods: In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, cardiovascular risk factors and cognition were assessed in midlife, ages 45–64 years. In 2011–2013, 20–25 years later, all consenting Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities participants underwent a cognitive and neurological evaluation and were given adjudicated diagnoses of cognitively normal, MCI, or DEM. Results: In 5995 participants with complete covariate data, midlife diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia were associated with late-life MCI and DEM. Low midlife cognition function was also associated with greater likelihood of late-life MCI or DEM. Both midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognitive function remained associated with later life MCI or DEM when both were in the model. Discussion: Later life MCI and DEM were independently associated with midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognition.