Pulse Wave Velocity Is Associated With Greater Risk of Dementia in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients

To investigate the association between pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, carotid artery diameter, carotid plaques, and conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Three hundred and seventy-five elderly ambulatory subjects with mild cognitive impairment were followed yearly to examine potential conversion to dementia. Vascular function was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Vascular structure was evaluated by intima-media thickness, carotid artery diameter, and carotid plaques using an ultrasonographic assessment of carotid arteries. One hundred and five patients (28%) converted to dementia during a mean follow-up period of 4.5 years. Higher pulse wave velocity was associated with greater risk of conversion to dementia (1-SD increase of pulse wave velocity: hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04-1.71; P=0.02) independently of age, sex, educational level, systolic blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, body mass index, calcium channel blockers intake, Mini-Mental State Examination at baseline, and apoE epsilon 4 status. Intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, and carotid artery diameter did not predict conversion to dementia (1-SD increase of intima-media thickness: hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.73-1.18; P=0.55; presence of carotid plaques: hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.62-1.87; P=0.79; 1-SD increase of carotid artery diameter: hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.89-1.31; P=0.44). Pulse wave velocity was associated with conversion to dementia, whereas intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, or carotid artery diameter were not after controlling for age and other confounding factors. Arterial stiffness could identify mild cognitive impairment patients at higher risk of dementia and may be a therapeutic target to delay or prevent the onset of dementia.