@article {8709, title = {Sex Differences in Cognitive Decline Among US Adults.}, journal = {JAMA Netw Open}, volume = {4}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 02 01}, pages = {e210169}, abstract = {

Importance: Sex differences in dementia risk are unclear, but some studies have found greater risk for women.

Objective: To determine associations between sex and cognitive decline in order to better understand sex differences in dementia risk.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used pooled analysis of individual participant data from 5 cohort studies for years 1971 to 2017: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Offspring Study, and Northern Manhattan Study. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate changes in each continuous cognitive outcome over time by sex. Data analysis was completed from March 2019 to October 2020.

Exposure: Sex.

Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was change in global cognition. Secondary outcomes were change in memory and executive function. Outcomes were standardized as t scores (mean [SD], 50 [10]); a 1-point difference represents a 0.1-SD difference in cognition.

Results: Among 34 349 participants, 26 088 who self-reported Black or White race, were free of stroke and dementia, and had covariate data at or before the first cognitive assessment were included for analysis. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 7.9 (5.3-20.5) years. There were 11 775 (44.7\%) men (median [interquartile range] age, 58 [51-66] years at first cognitive assessment; 2229 [18.9\%] Black) and 14 313 women (median [interquartile range] age, 58 [51-67] years at first cognitive assessment; 3636 [25.4\%] Black). Women had significantly higher baseline performance than men in global cognition (2.20 points higher; 95\% CI, 2.04 to 2.35 points; P < .001), executive function (2.13 points higher; 95\% CI, 1.98 to 2.29 points; P < .001), and memory (1.89 points higher; 95\% CI, 1.72 to 2.06 points; P < .001). Compared with men, women had significantly faster declines in global cognition (-0.07 points/y faster; 95\% CI, -0.08 to -0.05 points/y; P < .001) and executive function (-0.06 points/y faster; 95\% CI, -0.07 to -0.05 points/y; P < .001). Men and women had similar declines in memory (-0.004 points/y faster; 95\% CI, -0.023 to 0.014; P = .61).

Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this cohort study suggest that women may have greater cognitive reserve but faster cognitive decline than men, which could contribute to sex differences in late-life dementia.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cognitive Dysfunction, Cognitive Reserve, Cohort Studies, Executive Function, Humans, Memory, Middle Aged, Risk, Sex Factors, Time Factors, United States}, issn = {2574-3805}, doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0169}, author = {Levine, Deborah A and Gross, Alden L and Brice{\~n}o, Emily M and Tilton, Nicholas and Giordani, Bruno J and Sussman, Jeremy B and Hayward, Rodney A and Burke, James F and Hingtgen, Stephanie and Elkind, Mitchell S V and Manly, Jennifer J and Gottesman, Rebecca F and Gaskin, Darrell J and Sidney, Stephen and Sacco, Ralph L and Tom, Sarah E and Wright, Clinton B and Yaffe, Kristine and Galecki, Andrzej T} } @article {9972, title = {Cumulative Systolic Blood Pressure and Incident Stroke Type Variation by Race and Ethnicity.}, journal = {JAMA Netw Open}, volume = {7}, year = {2024}, month = {2024 May 01}, pages = {e248502}, abstract = {

IMPORTANCE: Stroke risk varies by systolic blood pressure (SBP), race, and ethnicity. The association between cumulative mean SBP and incident stroke type is unclear, and whether this association differs by race and ethnicity remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between cumulative mean SBP and first incident stroke among 3 major stroke types-ischemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-and explore how these associations vary by race and ethnicity.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Individual participant data from 6 US longitudinal cohorts (January 1, 1971, to December 31, 2019) were pooled. The analysis was performed from January 1, 2022, to January 2, 2024. The median follow-up was 21.6 (IQR, 13.6-31.8) years.

EXPOSURE: Time-dependent cumulative mean SBP.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was time from baseline visit to first incident stroke. Secondary outcomes consisted of time to first incident IS, ICH, and SAH.

RESULTS: Among 40 016 participants, 38 167 who were 18 years or older at baseline with no history of stroke and at least 1 SBP measurement before the first incident stroke were included in the analysis. Of these, 54.0\% were women; 25.0\% were Black, 8.9\% were Hispanic of any race, and 66.2\% were White. The mean (SD) age at baseline was 53.4 (17.0) years and the mean (SD) SBP at baseline was 136.9 (20.4) mm Hg. A 10-mm Hg higher cumulative mean SBP was associated with a higher risk of overall stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.20 [95\% CI, 1.18-1.23]), IS (HR, 1.20 [95\% CI, 1.17-1.22]), and ICH (HR, 1.31 [95\% CI, 1.25-1.38]) but not SAH (HR, 1.13 [95\% CI, 0.99-1.29]; P = .06). Compared with White participants, Black participants had a higher risk of IS (HR, 1.20 [95\% CI, 1.09-1.33]) and ICH (HR, 1.67 [95\% CI, 1.30-2.13]) and Hispanic participants of any race had a higher risk of SAH (HR, 3.81 [95\% CI, 1.29-11.22]). There was no consistent evidence that race and ethnicity modified the association of cumulative mean SBP with first incident stroke and stroke type.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings of this cohort study suggest that cumulative mean SBP was associated with incident stroke type, but the associations did not differ by race and ethnicity. Culturally informed stroke prevention programs should address modifiable risk factors such as SBP along with social determinants of health and structural inequities in society.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Black or African American, Blood Pressure, Cerebral Hemorrhage, Ethnicity, Female, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Hypertension, Incidence, Ischemic Stroke, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Racial Groups, Risk Factors, Stroke, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, United States, White, White People}, issn = {2574-3805}, doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.8502}, author = {Johnson, Kimson E and Li, Hanyu and Zhang, Min and Springer, Mellanie V and Galecki, Andrzej T and Whitney, Rachael T and Gottesman, Rebecca F and Hayward, Rodney A and Sidney, Stephen and Elkind, Mitchell S V and Longstreth, W T and Heckbert, Susan R and Gerber, Yariv and Sullivan, Kevin J and Levine, Deborah A} }