@article {677, title = {Correlates of aortic stiffness in elderly individuals: a subgroup of the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Hypertens}, volume = {15}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Jan}, pages = {16-23}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness has been associated with aging, hypertension, and diabetes; however, little data has been published examining risk factors associated with arterial stiffness in elderly individuals.

METHODS: Longitudinal associations were made between aortic stiffness and risk factors measured approximately 4 years earlier. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), an established index of arterial stiffness, was measured in 356 participants (53.4\% women, 25.3\% African American), aged 70 to 96 years, from the Pittsburgh site of the Cardiovascular Health Study during 1996 to 1998.

RESULTS: Mean aortic pulse wave velocity (850 cm/sec, range 365 to 1863) did not differ by ethnicity or sex. Increased aortic stiffness was positively associated with higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), age, fasting and 2-h postload glucose, fasting and 2-h insulin, triglycerides, waist circumference, body mass index, truncal fat, decreased physical activity, heart rate, and common carotid artery wall thickness (P < .05). After controlling for age and SBP, the strongest predictors of aortic stiffness in men were heart rate (P = .001) and 2-h glucose (P = .063). In women, PWV was positively associated with heart rate (P = .018), use of antihypertensive medication (P = .035), waist circumference (P = .030), and triglycerides (P = .081), and was negatively associated with physical activity (P = .111). Results were similar when the analysis was repeated in nondiabetic individuals and in those free of clinical or subclinical cardiovascular disease in 1992 to 1993.

CONCLUSIONS: In these elderly participants, aortic stiffness was positively associated with risk factors associated with the insulin resistance syndrome, increased common carotid intima-media thickness, heart rate, and decreased physical activity measured several years earlier.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Aorta, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Hypertension, Insulin Resistance, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Pulsatile Flow, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution}, issn = {0895-7061}, doi = {10.1016/s0895-7061(01)02228-2}, author = {Mackey, Rachel H and Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim and Vaitkevicius, Peter V and Sakkinen, Pamela A and Lyles, Mary F and Spurgeon, Harold A and Lakatta, Edward G and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {675, title = {Fasting and 2-hour postchallenge serum glucose measures and risk of incident cardiovascular events in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Arch Intern Med}, volume = {162}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Jan 28}, pages = {209-16}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The contributions of fasting and 2-hour postchallenge glucose level to cardiovascular events remain ill-defined, especially for nondiabetic adults. This study examined the relative predictive power of fasting and 2-hour glucose level on cardiovascular event risk.

METHODS: A total of 4014 community-dwelling adults 65 years or older who participated in the baseline visit of the Cardiovascular Health Study and who were without treated diabetes or previous myocardial infarction or stroke were eligible for analyses. Participants with treated diabetes at baseline were excluded. Incident myocardial infarction or stroke, or coronary death, was the outcome of interest. Age-, sex-, and race-adjusted proportional hazards regression models described individual and joint associations between baseline measures of fasting and 2-hour postchallenge glucose level and event risk.

RESULTS: There were 764 incident cardiovascular events during 8.5 years of follow-up. Fasting glucose level of 115 mg/dL (6.4 mmol/L) or more was associated with an increased cardiovascular risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.66 [95\% confidence interval (CI), 1.39-1.98]) in adjusted analyses compared with fasting glucose level less than 115 mg/dL. Two-hour glucose level was associated with a linear risk (HR, 1.02 [95\% CI, 1.00-1.04] per 10 mg/dL [0.6 mmol/L]) that included an additional increase in risk for 2-hour glucose level of 154 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L) or more (HR, 1.29 [95\% CI, 1.04-1.59]) in adjusted analyses. In joint fasting and 2-hour glucose models, only 2-hour glucose level remained predictive of event risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Two-hour glucose level was better than fasting glucose level alone at identifying older adults at increased risk of major incident cardiovascular events.

}, keywords = {Aged, Blood Glucose, Cardiovascular Diseases, Fasting, Female, Glucose Tolerance Test, Humans, Male, Myocardial Infarction, Predictive Value of Tests, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Assessment, Stroke}, issn = {0003-9926}, doi = {10.1001/archinte.162.2.209}, author = {Smith, Nicholas L and Barzilay, Joshua I and Shaffer, Douglas and Savage, Peter J and Heckbert, Susan R and Kuller, Lewis H and Kronmal, Richard A and Resnick, Helaine E and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {685, title = {Glucose, blood pressure, and lipid control in older people with and without diabetes mellitus: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {50}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Mar}, pages = {416-23}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk-factor treatment and control in older adults with normal fasting glucose, impaired fasting glucose, and diabetes mellitus and whether those with diabetes mellitus had better risk factor control than older adults with normal fasting glucose.

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from population-based, prospective cohort study of risk factors for cardio-vascular and cerebrovascular disease in older people (Cardiovascular Health Study).

SETTING: Community-based.

PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older.

MEASUREMENTS: Fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol and its subfractions, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and body mass index.

RESULTS: There were 579 (18\%) cohort members with diabetes mellitus (77\% receiving antidiabetic medication, 23\% with fasting glucose > or =126 mg/dL and no treatment), 213 (6\%) with impaired fasting glucose, and 2,582 (77\%)with normal fasting glucose. Of diabetic participants, 12\% had recommended fasting glucose levels of less than 110 mg/dL. Of participants with hypertension, a larger proportion of diabetic participants than nondiabetic participants (89\% versus 75\%, P < .01) was treated with antihypertensive agents, but a smaller proportion of diabetic participants had recommended blood pressure levels of 129/85 mmHg or lower than nondiabetic participants had recommended blood pressure levels of 139/89 mmHg or lower (27\% vs 48\%, P < .01). Diabetic dyslipidemic participants were treated less often with lipid-lowering therapy (26\% versus 55\%, P < .01) and achieved recommended low-density lipoprotein goals less often (8\%versus 54\%, P < .01) than nondiabetic dyslipidemic participants.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, treatment and control of cardiovascular risk factors were suboptimal in this older population, especially among those with diabetes mellitus. Optimizing risk-factor control can improve health outcomes in older adults with and without diabetes mellitus.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, LDL, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Complications, Diabetes Mellitus, Female, Humans, Male, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50103.x}, author = {Smith, Nicholas L and Savage, Peter J and Heckbert, Susan R and Barzilay, Joshua I and Bittner, Vera A and Kuller, Lewis H and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {713, title = {In the elderly, interleukin-6 plasma levels and the -174G>C polymorphism are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease.}, journal = {Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol}, volume = {22}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Dec 01}, pages = {2066-71}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin (IL)-6-mediated inflammation is involved in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed IL-6 levels and the -174G>C genotype in a case-control study of men and women (average age 73 years) within the Cardiovascular Health Study.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Cases included incident angina, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke (5-year follow-up), prevalent MI, and MRI-detectable infarcts. A control group and a group free of subclinical CVD were used for comparison. The -174C allele was associated with higher C-reactive protein (11\% higher, P=0.02), fibrinogen (3\% higher, P=0.02), and IL-6 (5\% higher; P=0.16). IL-6 was associated with increased atherosclerosis when the control group was compared with the group free of subclinical CVD. No further association with CVD events was found when case groups were compared with the control group. Compared with its absence, presence of the -174C allele was associated with risk of MRI infarcts (odds ratio 1.5).

CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 levels differentiated those with subclinical CVD from those without. Although the -174C allele was not associated with incident events, associations of the genotype with inflammation and MRI infarcts, combined with the plasma IL-6 results, suggest that IL-6 may chronically predispose an individual to develop atherosclerosis.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Biomarkers, Cardiovascular Diseases, Case-Control Studies, Cytosine, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genotype, Guanine, Health Surveys, Humans, Inflammation, Interleukin-6, Linear Models, Male, Polymorphism, Genetic, Predictive Value of Tests, Promoter Regions, Genetic}, issn = {1524-4636}, doi = {10.1161/01.atv.0000040224.49362.60}, author = {Jenny, Nancy S and Tracy, Russell P and Ogg, Malcolm S and Luong, Le Ahn and Kuller, Lewis H and Arnold, Alice M and Sharrett, A Richey and Humphries, Steve E} } @article {682, title = {Racial differences in coronary artery calcification in older adults.}, journal = {Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol}, volume = {22}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Mar 01}, pages = {424-30}, abstract = {

Reports on race-related differences in coronary artery calcium (CAC) are just beginning to emerge and have not been well studied in the elderly. This study was undertaken to assess whether such differences exist and the relationship between CAC and cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of elderly community-dwelling adults. CAC was measured by using electron-beam tomography in 614 adults (aged 67 to 99 years), of whom 59\% were women and 23\% were black. The median CAC score was lower in blacks than in whites for men (159 versus 787, respectively; P<0.001) and for women (134 versus 233, respectively; P=0.02) after adjustment for age, cardiovascular disease, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, although this difference was stronger and remained significant among men only. Lower CAC scores were also observed in the subgroup of blacks with a history of myocardial infarction. The lower CAC scores in blacks compared with whites observed in this study is consistent with either a lower prevalence of coronary artery disease or a lower extent of calcification of coronary artery disease.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Calcinosis, Cohort Studies, Coronary Artery Disease, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed}, issn = {1524-4636}, doi = {10.1161/hq0302.105357}, author = {Newman, Anne B and Naydeck, Barbara L and Whittle, Jeff and Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim and Edmundowicz, Daniel and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {674, title = {The relation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to retinopathy in people with diabetes in the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Br J Ophthalmol}, volume = {86}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Jan}, pages = {84-90}, abstract = {

AIMS: To describe the association of retinopathy with atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic risk factors in people with diabetes.

METHODS: 296 of the 558 people classified as having diabetes by the American Diabetes Association criteria, from a population based cohort of adults (ranging in age from 69 to 102 years) living in four United States communities (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Forsyth County, North Carolina; Sacramento County, California; and Washington County, Maryland) were studied from 1997 to 1998. Lesions typical of diabetic retinopathy were determined by grading a 45 degrees colour fundus photograph of one eye of each participant, using a modification of the Airlie House classification system.

RESULTS: Retinopathy was present in 20\% of the diabetic cohort, with the lowest prevalence (16\%), in those 80 years of age or older. Retinopathy was detected in 20.3\% of the 296 people with diabetes; 2.7\% of the 296 had signs of proliferative retinopathy and 2.1\% had signs of macular oedema. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was higher in black people (35.4\%) than white (16.0\%). Controlling for age, sex, and blood glucose, retinopathy was more frequent in black people than white (odds ratio (OR) 2.26, 95\% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 5.05), in those with longer duration of diabetes (OR (per 5 years of diabetes) 1.42, 95\% CI 1.18, 1.70), in those with subclinical cardiovascular disease (OR 1.49, 95\% CI 0.51, 4.31), or coronary heart disease or stroke (OR 3.23, 95\% CI 1.09, 9.56) than those without those diseases, in those with higher plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (OR (per 10 mg/dl of LDL cholesterol) 1.12, 95\% CI 1.02, 1.23), and in those with gross proteinuria (OR 4.76, 95\% CI 1.53, 14.86).

CONCLUSION: Data from this population based study suggest a higher prevalence of retinopathy in black people than white people with diabetes and the association of cardiovascular disease, elevated plasma LDL cholesterol, and gross proteinuria with diabetic retinopathy. However, any conclusions or explanations regarding associations described here must be made with caution because only about one half of those with diabetes mellitus were evaluated.

}, keywords = {Age of Onset, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Arteriosclerosis, Black People, Blood Pressure, Cohort Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diabetic Retinopathy, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Odds Ratio, Prospective Studies, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Time Factors, White People}, issn = {0007-1161}, doi = {10.1136/bjo.86.1.84}, author = {Klein, Ronald and Marino, Emily K and Kuller, Lewis H and Polak, Joseph F and Tracy, Russell P and Gottdiener, John S and Burke, Gregory L and Hubbard, Larry D and Boineau, Robin} } @article {704, title = {Relationship between coronary artery calcification and other measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease in older adults.}, journal = {Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol}, volume = {22}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Oct 01}, pages = {1674-9}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: In the Cardiovascular Health Study, subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) predicted CVD events in older adults. The extent to which this measure or its components reflect calcified coronary disease is unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) was assessed with electron beam tomography in 414 participants without clinical CVD and examined using cut points (CAC> or =400 and CAC> or =800) and the log(CAC); 274 had subclinical CVD by ankle-arm index, ECG, or carotid ultrasound. Cut points for subclinical disease as previously defined in the Cardiovascular Health Study were examined as well as continuous measures to produce receiver operating characteristic curve curves. A low ankle-arm index was highly specific for a high CAC score. The internal carotid artery intima-media thickness was most strongly correlated with CAC (r=0.30) and was significantly related to both CAC cut points and to the log(CAC) score independently of all other measures.

CONCLUSIONS: In these community-dwelling older adults without clinical CVD, internal carotid artery intima-media thickness was most closely related to CAC. However, 17.5\% of those with a CAC> or =400 would be missed in the ascertainment of subclinical atherosclerosis using the previously published composite of subclinical atherosclerosis. Prospective follow-up will determine whether the CAC score improves prediction of CVD events over other noninvasive measures.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Calcinosis, Cardiovascular Diseases, Carotid Stenosis, Cohort Studies, Coronary Artery Disease, Demography, Female, Humans, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Sensitivity and Specificity, Sex Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Tunica Intima, Tunica Media}, issn = {1524-4636}, doi = {10.1161/01.atv.0000033540.89672.24}, author = {Newman, Anne B and Naydeck, Barbara L and Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim and Edmundowicz, Daniel and O{\textquoteright}Leary, Daniel and Kronmal, Richard and Burke, Gregory L and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {730, title = {Cardiac benefits of fish consumption may depend on the type of fish meal consumed: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {107}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Mar 18}, pages = {1372-7}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined associations of fish consumption with ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk among older adults or how different types of fish meals relate to IHD risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In a population-based prospective cohort study, usual fish consumption was ascertained at baseline among 3910 adults aged > or =65 years and free of known cardiovascular disease in 1989 and 1990. Consumption of tuna and other broiled or baked fish correlated with plasma phospholipid long-chain n-3 fatty acids, whereas consumption of fried fish or fish sandwiches (fish burgers) did not. Over 9.3 years{\textquoteright} mean follow-up, there were 247 IHD deaths (including 148 arrhythmic deaths) and 363 incident nonfatal myocardial infarctions (MIs). After adjustment for potential confounders, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish was associated with lower risk of total IHD death (P for trend=0.001) and arrhythmic IHD death (P=0.001) but not nonfatal MI (P=0.44), with 49\% lower risk of total IHD death and 58\% lower risk of arrhythmic IHD death among persons consuming tuna/other fish 3 or more times per week compared with less than once per month. In similar analyses, fried fish/fish sandwich consumption was not associated with lower risk of total IHD death, arrhythmic IHD death, or nonfatal MI but rather with trends toward higher risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Among adults aged > or =65 years, modest consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish, but not fried fish or fish sandwiches, is associated with lower risk of IHD death, especially arrhythmic IHD death. Cardiac benefits of fish consumption may vary depending on the type of fish meal consumed.

}, keywords = {Aged, Animals, Arrhythmias, Cardiac, Diet, Eating, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Fishes, Humans, Male, Myocardial Infarction, Myocardial Ischemia, Prospective Studies, Risk, Tuna}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/01.cir.0000055315.79177.16}, author = {Mozaffarian, Dariush and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Kuller, Lewis H and Burke, Gregory L and Tracy, Russell P and Siscovick, David S} } @article {741, title = {C-reactive protein, carotid intima-media thickness, and incidence of ischemic stroke in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {108}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Jul 15}, pages = {166-70}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) are both associated with the occurrence of stroke. We investigated whether elevated CRP is a risk factor for ischemic stroke independent of carotid IMT and studied the interaction between CRP and IMT.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 5417 participants aged 65 years or older without preexisting stroke or chronic atrial fibrillation who were participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The hazard ratio of incident ischemic stroke was estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression. During 10.2 years of follow-up, 469 incident ischemic strokes occurred. The adjusted hazard ratios for ischemic stroke in the 2nd to 4th quartiles of baseline CRP, relative to the 1st quartile, were 1.19 (95\% CI 0.92 to 1.53), 1.05 (95\% CI 0.81 to 1.37), and 1.60 (95\% CI 1.23 to 2.08), respectively. With additional adjustment for carotid IMT, there was little confounding. The association of CRP with stroke was significantly different depending on IMT (P<0.02), with no association of CRP with stroke among those in the lowest IMT tertile and a significant association among those with higher levels of IMT.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that elevated CRP is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, independent of atherosclerosis severity as measured by carotid IMT. The association of CRP with stroke is more apparent in the presence of a higher carotid IMT. CRP and carotid IMT may each be independent integrals in determining the risk of ischemic stroke.

}, keywords = {Aged, Brain Ischemia, C-Reactive Protein, California, Carotid Arteries, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Maryland, North Carolina, Odds Ratio, Pennsylvania, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Stroke, Tunica Intima, Tunica Media, Ultrasonography}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/01.CIR.0000079160.07364.6A}, author = {Cao, Jie J and Thach, Chau and Manolio, Teri A and Psaty, Bruce M and Kuller, Lewis H and Chaves, Paulo H M and Polak, Joseph F and Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim and Herrington, David M and Price, Thomas R and Cushman, Mary} } @article {718, title = {Early age-related maculopathy in the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Ophthalmology}, volume = {110}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Jan}, pages = {25-33}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of early age-related maculopathy (ARM) and its relation to atherosclerosis, lipids, hypertension, and inflammatory factors in a population studied for cardiovascular disease risk factors and outcomes.

DESIGN: Population-based cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS: A biracial population of 2361 adults (ranging from 69-97 years of age; 1998 whites and 363 blacks) living in four US counties (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Forsyth County, North Carolina; Sacramento County, California; and Washington County, Maryland) were examined during the interval from 1997 to 1998.

METHODS: Drusen and other lesions typical of ARM were identified by examining a 45 degrees color fundus photograph of one eye of each participant and classified by means of a modification of the Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Early ARM.

RESULTS: Early ARM was present in 15.5\% and late ARM in 1.3\% of the cohort. The overall prevalence of any ARM was lower in blacks (9.1\%) compared with whites (18.2\%). While controlling for age, race, gender, and total calories consumed in the diet, factors associated with ARM were cerebral white matter disease as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (odds ratio [OR], 1.50; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.05, 2.16, P = 0.027), and lower serum total cholesterol (OR, per 10 mg/dl increase 0.95; 95\% CI, 0.91, 0.98, P = 0.02). There were no associations between hypertension, blood pressure, common carotid artery plaque, or any systemic inflammatory factors studied and early ARM.

CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study documents the higher prevalence of ARM in whites compared with blacks. Although an association was found between signs of white matter disease and early ARM, there was no evidence of an association of ARM with either hypertension or inflammatory factors.

}, keywords = {African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Arteriosclerosis, Blood Pressure, C-Reactive Protein, California, Cohort Studies, Diet, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Humans, Hypertension, Leukocyte Count, Longitudinal Studies, Macular Degeneration, Male, Mid-Atlantic Region, North Carolina, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Serum Albumin}, issn = {0161-6420}, doi = {10.1016/s0161-6420(02)01565-8}, author = {Klein, Ronald and Klein, Barbara E K and Marino, Emily K and Kuller, Lewis H and Furberg, Curt and Burke, Gregory L and Hubbard, Larry D} } @article {723, title = {Evaluation of dementia in the cardiovascular health cognition study.}, journal = {Neuroepidemiology}, volume = {22}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Jan-Feb}, pages = {1-12}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To describe a methodology to evaluate dementia and frequency of different types of dementia and prevalence of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS).

METHODS: The CHS is a longitudinal study of cardiovascular disease among community-dwelling individuals over the age of 65. Of the 5,888 participants in the original study, 3,608 had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in 1991, and formed the cohort for the dementia study. The CHS included yearly measures of cognitive function and, from 1998 to 2000, participants were evaluated for dementia by detailed neurological, and neuropsychological examinations. The possible cases of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were adjudicated by a review committee of neurologists and psychiatrists.

RESULTS: There were 480 cases of (13.3\%) incident dementia in the total sample, 227 (6.3\%) prevalent dementia, 577 (16.0\%) MCI, and 2,318 (64.4\%) normal. The adjudication committee classified 69\% of the incident dementia as Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD), 11\% as vascular dementia (VaD), 16\% as both, and 4\% as other types. There was a substantial agreement between pre- and postMRI diagnosis of types of dementia. The frequency of dementia within the CHS cohort which survived to the end of the study in 1998-1999, was 13.5\% for white men, 14.5\% for white women, 22.2\% for black men and 23.4\% for black women.

CONCLUSION: The CHS has developed a methodology for longitudinal studies of dementia in large cohorts and represents the largest study of dementia including cognitive testing, MRI and genetic markers.

}, keywords = {Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution}, issn = {0251-5350}, doi = {10.1159/000067110}, author = {Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Fitzpatrick, Annette and Ives, Diane and Becker, James T and Beauchamp, Norman} } @article {722, title = {n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids, fatal ischemic heart disease, and nonfatal myocardial infarction in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Clin Nutr}, volume = {77}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Feb}, pages = {319-25}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relation of the dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, ie, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from fatty fish and alpha-linolenic acid from vegetable oils, with ischemic heart disease among older adults.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the associations of plasma phospholipid concentrations of DHA, EPA, and alpha-linolenic acid as biomarkers of intake with the risk of incident fatal ischemic heart disease and incident nonfatal myocardial infarction in older adults.

DESIGN: We conducted a case-control study nested in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a cohort study of adults aged > or = 65 y. Cases experienced incident fatal myocardial infarction and other ischemic heart disease death (n = 54) and incident nonfatal myocardial infarction (n = 125). Matched controls were randomly selected (n = 179). We measured plasma phospholipid concentrations of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in blood samples drawn approximately 2 y before the event.

RESULTS: A higher concentration of combined DHA and EPA was associated with a lower risk of fatal ischemic heart disease, and a higher concentration of alpha-linolenic acid with a tendency to lower risk, after adjustment for risk factors [odds ratio: 0.32 (95\% CI: 0.13, 0.78; P = 0.01) and 0.52 (0.24, 1.15; P = 0.1), respectively]. In contrast, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were not associated with nonfatal myocardial infarction.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher combined dietary intake of DHA and EPA, and possibly alpha-linolenic acid, may lower the risk of fatal ischemic heart disease in older adults. The association of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with fatal ischemic heart disease, but not with nonfatal myocardial infarction, is consistent with possible antiarrhythmic effects of these fatty acids.

}, keywords = {Aged, alpha-Linolenic Acid, Biomarkers, Case-Control Studies, Cohort Studies, Coronary Disease, Dietary Supplements, Docosahexaenoic Acids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Fish Oils, Humans, Incidence, Male, Myocardial Infarction, Odds Ratio, Phospholipids, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors}, issn = {0002-9165}, doi = {10.1093/ajcn/77.2.319}, author = {Lemaitre, Rozenn N and King, Irena B and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Kuller, Lewis H and Tracy, Russell P and Siscovick, David S} } @article {755, title = {Prevalence and classification of mild cognitive impairment in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study: part 1.}, journal = {Arch Neurol}, volume = {60}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Oct}, pages = {1385-9}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its diagnostic classification in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) Cognition Study.

DESIGN: The CHS Cognition Study is an ancillary study of the CHS that was conducted to determine the presence of MCI and dementia in the CHS cohort.

SETTING: Multicenter population study.

PATIENTS: We examined 3608 participants in the CHS who had undergone detailed neurological, neuropsychological, neuroradiological, and psychiatric testing to identify dementia and MCI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of MCI was determined for the whole cohort, and specific subtypes of MCI were examined in detail only at the Pittsburgh, Pa, center (n = 927). Mild cognitive impairment was classified as either MCI amnestic-type or MCI multiple cognitive deficits-type.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of MCI was 19\% (465 of 2470 participants); prevalence increased with age from 19\% in participants younger than 75 years to 29\% in those older than 85 years. The overall prevalence of MCI at the Pittsburgh center was 22\% (130 of 599 participants); prevalence of the MCI amnesic-type was 6\% and of the MCI multiple cognitive deficits-type was 16\%.

CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-two percent of the participants aged 75 years or older had MCI. Mild cognitive impairment is a heterogeneous syndrome, where the MCI amnestic-type is less frequent than the MCI multiple cognitive deficits-type. Most of the participants with MCI had comorbid conditions that may affect their cognitive functions.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Cohort Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Memory Disorders, Neuropsychological Tests, Pennsylvania, Population, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales}, issn = {0003-9942}, doi = {10.1001/archneur.60.10.1385}, author = {Lopez, Oscar L and Jagust, William J and DeKosky, Steven T and Becker, James T and Fitzpatrick, Annette and Dulberg, Corinne and Breitner, John and Lyketsos, Constantine and Jones, Beverly and Kawas, Claudia and Carlson, Michelle and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {729, title = {Prospective study of alcohol consumption and risk of dementia in older adults.}, journal = {JAMA}, volume = {289}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Mar 19}, pages = {1405-13}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: Alcohol consumption has been associated with complex changes in cerebral vasculature and structure in older adults. How alcohol consumption affects the incidence of dementia is less clear.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prospective relationship of alcohol consumption and risk of dementia among older adults.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Nested case-control study of 373 cases with incident dementia and 373 controls who were among 5888 adults aged 65 years and older who participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective, population-based cohort study in 4 US communities. The controls were frequency-matched on age, death before 1999, and their attendance of a 1998-1999 clinic. Participants in this study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cognitive testing between 1992 and 1994 and were followed up until 1999.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds of incident dementia, ascertained by detailed neurological and neuropsychological examinations according to average alcohol consumption, assessed by self-reported intake of beer, wine, and liquor at 2 visits prior to the date of the MRI.

RESULTS: Compared with abstention, the adjusted odds for dementia among those whose weekly alcohol consumption was less than 1 drink were 0.65 (95\% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-1.02); 1 to 6 drinks, 0.46 (95\% CI, 0.27-0.77); 7 to 13 drinks, 0.69 (95\% CI, 0.37-1.31); and 14 or more drinks, 1.22 (95\% CI, 0.60-2.49; P for quadratic term =.001). A trend toward greater odds of dementia associated with heavier alcohol consumption was most apparent among men and participants with an apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele. We found generally similar relationships of alcohol use with Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with abstention, consumption of 1 to 6 drinks weekly is associated with a lower risk of incident dementia among older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Apolipoprotein E4, Apolipoproteins E, Brain, Case-Control Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Prospective Studies, Risk}, issn = {0098-7484}, doi = {10.1001/jama.289.11.1405}, author = {Mukamal, Kenneth J and Kuller, Lewis H and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Longstreth, W T and Mittleman, Murray A and Siscovick, David S} } @article {735, title = {Renal insufficiency as a predictor of cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in elderly individuals.}, journal = {J Am Coll Cardiol}, volume = {41}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Apr 16}, pages = {1364-72}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between elevated creatinine levels and cardiovascular events.

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The association of mild to moderate renal insufficiency with cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective population-based study of subjects, aged >65 years, who had a serum creatinine measured at baseline (n = 5,808) and were followed for a median of 7.3 years. Proportional hazards models were used to examine the association of creatinine to all-cause mortality and incident cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Renal insufficiency was defined as a creatinine level > or =1.5 mg/dl in men or > or =1.3 mg/dl in women.

RESULTS: An elevated creatinine level was present in 648 (11.2\%) participants. Subjects with elevated creatinine had higher overall (76.7 vs. 29.5/1,000 years, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular (35.8 vs. 13.0/1,000 years, p < 0.001) mortality than those with normal creatinine levels. They were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (54.0 vs. 31.8/1,000 years, p < 0.001), stroke (21.1 vs. 11.9/1,000 years, p < 0.001), congestive heart failure (38.7 vs. 17/1,000 years, p < 0.001), and symptomatic peripheral vascular disease (10.6 vs. 3.5/1,000 years, p < 0.001). After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical disease measures, elevated creatinine remained a significant predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, total cardiovascular disease (CVD), claudication, and congestive heart failure (CHF). A linear increase in risk was observed with increasing creatinine.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated creatinine levels are common in older adults and are associated with increased risk of mortality, CVD, and CHF. The increased risk is apparent early in renal disease.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Confidence Intervals, Creatinine, Female, Heart Failure, Humans, Intermittent Claudication, Kidney Failure, Chronic, Male, Odds Ratio, Predictive Value of Tests, Survival Analysis}, issn = {0735-1097}, doi = {10.1016/s0735-1097(03)00163-3}, author = {Fried, Linda F and Shlipak, Michael G and Crump, Casey and Bleyer, Anthony J and Gottdiener, John S and Kronmal, Richard A and Kuller, Lewis H and Newman, Anne B} } @article {724, title = {Risk factors for dementia in the cardiovascular health cognition study.}, journal = {Neuroepidemiology}, volume = {22}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Jan-Feb}, pages = {13-22}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study has evaluated the determinants of dementia among 3,608 participants that had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in 1991 and were followed to 1998-1999.

METHODS: There were 480 incident dementia cases, 330 (69\%) were classified as Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD).

RESULTS: In univariate analysis, low scores on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE) and on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test as well as declines in scores over time prior to the development of dementia were significant predictors of dementia. A high ventricular grade on the MRI (atrophy) as well as high white matter grade, a number of brain infarcts on the MRI were all determinants of dementia. Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (Apo(E-4)) was also a powerful predictor of dementia. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model controlling for race, gender and grade, the hazard ratios for age (1.1), 3MSE score (0.9), ventricular size (1.4), white matter grade (1.8), presence of large infarcts >3 mm (1.3) and Apo(E-4) (2.1) were significant predictors of dementia. The combination of an Apo(E-4) genotype, 3MSE score <90, > or =5 ventricular grade, > or =3 white matter grade at the time of the MRI were associated with a 17-fold increased risk (95\% CI: 8.6-34.9) of dementia as compared to individuals with none of the above attributes.

CONCLUSIONS: Measures of cognition, Apo(E-4) and MRI of the brain are strong predictors of both dementia and of AD.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Apolipoproteins E, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Female, Genotype, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Odds Ratio, Predictive Value of Tests, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors}, issn = {0251-5350}, doi = {10.1159/000067109}, author = {Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Newman, Anne and Beauchamp, Norman J and Burke, Greg and Dulberg, Corinne and Fitzpatrick, Annette and Fried, Linda and Haan, Mary N} } @article {756, title = {Risk factors for mild cognitive impairment in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study: part 2.}, journal = {Arch Neurol}, volume = {60}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Oct}, pages = {1394-9}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a longitudinal population study-the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study.

DESIGN: We examined the factors that in the period 1991 through 1994 predicted the development of MCI in all participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study. Further examination was conducted in the Pittsburgh, Pa, cohort (n = 927), where participants with MCI were classified as having either the MCI amnestic-type or the MCI multiple cognitive deficits-type.

SETTING: Multicenter population study.

PATIENTS: This study includes all participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study (n = 3608) who had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain between 1991 and 1994, and detailed neuropsychological, neurological, and medical evaluations to identify the presence of MCI or dementia in the period 1998 to 1999. The mean time between the closest clinical examination to the MRI and the diagnostic evaluation for cognitive disorders was 5.8 years for the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study cohort and 6.0 years for the Pittsburgh cohort.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk factors for MCI at the time of the MRI were identified using logistic regression, controlling for age, race, educational level, baseline Modified Mini-Mental State Examination and Digit Symbol Test scores, measurements of depression, MRI findings (atrophy, ventricular volume, white matter lesions, and infarcts), the presence of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease.

RESULTS: Mild cognitive impairment (n = 577) was associated with race (African American), low educational level, low Modified Mini-Mental State Examination and Digit Symbol Test scores, cortical atrophy, MRI-identified infarcts, and measurements of depression. The MCI amnestic-type was associated with MRI-identified infarcts, the presence of the APOE epsilon4 allele, and low Modified Mini-Mental State Examination scores. The MCI multiple cognitive deficits-type was associated with low Modified Mini-Mental State Examination and Digit Symbol Test scores.

CONCLUSIONS: The development of MCI is associated with measurements of cognition and depression, racial and constitutional factors, and cerebrovascular disease. Early cognitive deficits seem to be a common denominator for the 2 forms of MCI; the presence of cerebrovascular disease and the APOE epsilon4 allele is associated with the amnestic type of MCI.

}, keywords = {Aged, Apolipoprotein E4, Apolipoproteins E, Brain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Cohort Studies, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mood Disorders, Pennsylvania, Population, Risk Factors}, issn = {0003-9942}, doi = {10.1001/archneur.60.10.1394}, author = {Lopez, Oscar L and Jagust, William J and Dulberg, Corinne and Becker, James T and DeKosky, Steven T and Fitzpatrick, Annette and Breitner, John and Lyketsos, Constantine and Jones, Beverly and Kawas, Claudia and Carlson, Michelle and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {762, title = {Incidence and prevalence of dementia in the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {52}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Feb}, pages = {195-204}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence and prevalence of dementia, Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) cohort.

DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study using prospectively and retrospectively collected data to evaluate dementia.

SETTING: Four U.S. communities.

PARTICIPANTS: There were 3,602 CHS participants, including 2,865 white and 492 African-American participants free of dementia, who completed a cranial magnetic resonance image between 1992 and 1994 and were followed for an average of 5.4 years.

MEASUREMENTS: Dementia was classified by neurologist/psychiatrist committee review using neuropsychological tests, neurological examinations, medical records, physician questionnaires, and proxy/informant interviews. Demographics and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype were collected at baseline. Incidence by type of dementia was determined using National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria for AD and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Center{\textquoteright}s State of California criteria for VaD.

RESULTS: Classification resulted in 227 persons with prevalent dementia at entry into the study and 480 incident cases during follow-up. Incidence rates of dementia scaled to age 80 were 34.7 per 1,000 person-years for white women, 35.3 for white men, 58.8 for African-American women, and 53.0 for African-American men. Sex differences were not significant within race. Adjusted for age and education, racial differences were only of borderline significance and may have been influenced by ascertainment methodology. Rates differed substantially by educational attainment but were only significant for whites. Those with the APOE epsilon4 allele had an incidence rate at age 80 of 56.4, compared with 29.6 for those without this allele (P<.001). In whites, type-specific incidence at age 80 was 19.2 for AD versus 14.6 for VaD. These rates were 34.7 and 27.2 for African Americans. At termination of observation, women had only a slightly higher prevalence of dementia (16.0\%) than men (14.7\%).

CONCLUSION: Sex and racial differences were not found, and VaD was higher than reported in other studies. These data provide new estimates of dementia incidence in a community sample for projection of future burden.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoproteins E, Dementia, Dementia, Vascular, Education, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Prevalence, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, United States}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52058.x}, author = {Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Kuller, Lewis H and Ives, Diane G and Lopez, Oscar L and Jagust, William and Breitner, John C S and Jones, Beverly and Lyketsos, Constantine and Dulberg, Corinne} } @article {787, title = {Predictors of falling cholesterol levels in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Ann Epidemiol}, volume = {14}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 May}, pages = {325-31}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To estimate 4-year change in serum total cholesterol levels in a population-based sample of older adults and identify independent predictors of cholesterol decline.

METHODS: Prospective study of 2837 adults aged 65 years and older with serum cholesterol measured in 1992-1993 and 1996-1997.

RESULTS: Mean serum cholesterol levels declined 6.3 mg/dl between the two examinations. Declines were greater in white (-7.3 mg/dl) than black (-1.4 mg/dl) participants and in those in good/excellent health (-0.9 mg/dl) vs. fair/poor health (-3.1 mg/dl; both p < 0.01). Factors associated with greater decline on multivariate analysis included age, male gender, and higher white cell count, albumin, and baseline cholesterol. Cholesterol levels declined 2.0 mg/dl per 6 year increment in baseline age and 6.8 mg/dl more in men than women after adjustment for other factors. C-reactive protein levels were unrelated to cholesterol change.

CONCLUSION: Declining cholesterol levels were associated with male gender, advanced age, weight loss, and white blood cell count but not with C-reactive protein levels. The role of declining cholesterol synthesis, due to as yet undefined age-related changes or to cytokine-mediated reductions related to illness, should be examined to help clarify the mechanisms of the sometimes marked declines in cholesterol levels observed at advanced ages.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Age Factors, Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Forecasting, Health Status, Humans, Male, Medicare, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, Sex Factors, United States}, issn = {1047-2797}, doi = {10.1016/j.annepidem.2003.09.006}, author = {Manolio, Teri A and Cushman, Mary and Gottdiener, John S and Dobs, Adrian and Kuller, Lewis H and Kronmal, Richard A} } @article {804, title = {Risk of congestive heart failure in an elderly population treated with peripheral alpha-1 antagonists.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {52}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Oct}, pages = {1648-54}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To compare the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) in elderly individuals treated with any peripheral alpha-1 antagonist for hypertension with any thiazide, test whether the risk persists in subjects without cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline, and examine CHF risk in normotensive men with prostatism treated with alpha antagonists.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Four U.S. sites: Washington County, Maryland; Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Sacramento County, California; and Forsyth County, North Carolina.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 5,888 community-dwelling subjects aged 65 and older.

MEASUREMENTS: Adjudicated incident CHF.

RESULTS: The 3,105 participants with treated hypertension were at risk for CHF; 22\% of men and 8\% of women took alpha antagonists during follow-up. The age-adjusted risk of CHF in those receiving monotherapy treated with alpha antagonists was 1.90 (95\% confidence interval=1.03-3.50) compared with thiazides. In subjects without CVD at baseline receiving monotherapy, women taking an alpha antagonist had a 3.6 times greater age-adjusted risk of CHF, whereas men had no difference in risk. Adjustment for systolic blood pressure attenuated statistical differences in risk. There were 930 men without hypertension at risk for CHF; 5\% used alpha antagonists during follow-up, with no observed increase in CHF risk.

CONCLUSION: Subjects receiving alpha antagonist monotherapy for hypertension had a two to three times greater risk of incident CHF, also seen in lower-risk subjects, but differences in blood pressure control partly explained this.

}, keywords = {Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists, Aged, Antihypertensive Agents, Benzothiadiazines, Blood Pressure, Cohort Studies, Diuretics, Female, Heart Failure, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Risk Factors, Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors, United States}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52456.x}, author = {Bryson, Chris L and Smith, Nicholas L and Kuller, Lewis H and Chaves, Paulo H M and Manolio, Teri A and Lewis, William and Boyko, Edward J and Furberg, Curt D and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {788, title = {White matter hyperintensity on cranial magnetic resonance imaging: a predictor of stroke.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {35}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Aug}, pages = {1821-5}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We have previously reported that several "silent" infarcts found on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were a risk factor for stroke. Several recent reports have shown that high white matter grade (WMG) and increasing WMG over time were risk factors for stroke. We tested the hypothesis that high WMG > or =2 was a predictor of risk for stroke, independent of other risk factors.

METHODS: We examined the extent of white matter hyperintensity on cranial MRI of 3293 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). The degree of white matter hyperintensity was graded from least severe (grade=0) to most severe (grade=9). Participants were followed-up for an average of 7 years for the occurrence of a stroke. Clinical stroke diagnoses were based on hospital records reviewed by an adjudication committee expert in stroke diagnosis. During this period, 278 strokes occurred. Results The relative risk of stroke increased significantly as the WMG increased. The risk of stroke was 2.8\% per year for participants with high WMG (grades > or =5), compared with only 0.6\% for participants with grades 0 to 1.Conclusions The risk of stroke with high WMG is independent of traditional stroke risk factors and persists when controlling for MRI infarcts, another subclinical imaging marker of cerebrovascular disease. Assessment of white matter disease may be valuable in assessing future risk of stroke.

}, keywords = {Aged, Brain, Female, Humans, Leukoaraiosis, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Radiography, Risk Factors, Stroke}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/01.STR.0000132193.35955.69}, author = {Kuller, Lewis H and Longstreth, W T and Arnold, Alice M and Bernick, Charles and Bryan, R Nick and Beauchamp, Norman J} } @article {850, title = {Alcohol use and risk of ischemic stroke among older adults: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {36}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Sep}, pages = {1830-4}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association of light to moderate alcohol consumption with risk of ischemic stroke remains uncertain, as are the roles of potentially mediating factors and modification by apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype.

METHODS: We studied the prospective association of alcohol consumption and risk of ischemic stroke among 4410 participants free of cardiovascular disease at baseline in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort study of older adults from 4 US communities. Participants reported their consumption of alcoholic beverages yearly.

RESULTS: During an average follow-up period of 9.2 years, 434 cases of incident ischemic stroke occurred. Compared with long-term abstainers, the multivariate relative risks of ischemic stroke were 0.85 (95\% CI, 0.63 to 1.13), 0.75 (95\% CI, 0.53 to 1.06), 0.82 (95\% CI, 0.51 to 1.30), and 1.03 (95\% CI, 0.68 to 1.57) among consumers of <1, 1 to 6, 7 to 13, and > or =14 drinks per week (P quadratic trend 0.06). ApoE genotype appeared to modify the alcohol-ischemic stroke relationship (P interaction 0.08), with generally lower risks among drinkers than abstainers in apoE4-negative participants but higher risks among drinkers than abstainers among apoE4-positive participants. We could not identify candidate mediators among lipid, inflammatory, and prothrombotic factors.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study of older adults, the association of alcohol use and risk of ischemic stroke was U-shaped, with modestly lower risk among consumers of 1 to 6 drinks per week. However, apoE genotype may modify this association, and even moderate alcohol intake may be associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke among apoE4-positive older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Apolipoproteins E, Brain Infarction, Brain Ischemia, Cohort Studies, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genotype, Humans, Hypertension, Inflammation, Ischemia, Lipids, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Myocardial Infarction, Prospective Studies, Risk, Risk Factors, Stroke, Substance-Related Disorders, Thrombosis, Time Factors, Vascular Diseases}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/01.STR.0000177587.76846.89}, author = {Mukamal, Kenneth J and Chung, Hyoju and Jenny, Nancy S and Kuller, Lewis H and Longstreth, W T and Mittleman, Murray A and Burke, Gregory L and Cushman, Mary and Beauchamp, Norman J and Siscovick, David S} } @article {842, title = {Common promoter polymorphisms of inflammation and thrombosis genes and longevity in older adults: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Atherosclerosis}, volume = {181}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jul}, pages = {175-83}, abstract = {

Inflammatory response genes may influence life span or quality at advanced ages. Using data from the population-based cardiovascular health study (CHS) cohort, we examined the associations between promoter polymorphisms of several inflammation and thrombosis genes with longevity. We ascertained genotypes for interleukin (IL)-6 -174 G/C, beta-fibrinogen -455 G/A, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 -675 4G/5G, and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) -438 G/A in 2224 men and women > or = 65 years old at baseline. During 10 years of follow-up, men with the TAFI -438 A/A genotype had decreased mortality due to all causes, and lived, on average, 0.9 more years of life, or 1.1 more years of healthy life, than men with the -438 G allele. The effects of TAFI -438 G/A in women were smaller and not statistically significant. PAI-1 4G/4G genotype appeared to be associated with lower non-cardiovascular mortality in men, but with greater cardiovascular mortality in women. In exploratory analyses, we observed a possible interaction among anti-inflammatory drugs, interleukin-6 -174 C/C genotype, and longevity. These findings suggest that modulators of fibrinolytic activity may have a generalized influence on aging, and merit further investigation in studies of genetic determinants of human longevity.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Carboxypeptidase B2, Cause of Death, Cohort Studies, Female, Genotype, Health Status, Humans, Inflammation, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1, Polymorphism, Genetic, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Thrombosis}, issn = {0021-9150}, doi = {10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2005.01.028}, author = {Reiner, Alexander P and Diehr, Paula and Browner, Warren S and Humphries, Stephen E and Jenny, Nancy S and Cushman, Mary and Tracy, Russell P and Walston, Jeremy and Lumley, Thomas and Newman, Anne B and Kuller, Lewis H and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {829, title = {Coronary artery calcium: associations with brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities and cognitive status.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {53}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Apr}, pages = {609-15}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between coronary atherosclerosis and subclinical brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities and between coronary atherosclerosis and abnormal cognitive function (dementia/mild cognitive impairment).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), an epidemiological study of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in older adults.

PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred nine men and women, mean age 79, recruited from the Pittsburgh center of the CHS.

MEASUREMENTS: Coronary atherosclerosis was defined according to the level of coronary artery calcification (CAC), as measured using electronic beam tomography. Subclinical brain MRI abnormalities included ventricular enlargement, white matter hyperintensities, and number of subcortical brain infarcts. Brain MRI and CAC measurements were performed between 1998 and 2000 at the Pittsburgh center of the CHS. Prevalence of brain MRI abnormalities and abnormal cognitive status were examined across quartiles of the CAC score, before and after controlling for age. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess whether CAC level was associated with abnormalities of brain MRI or abnormal cognitive status.

RESULTS: Older adults with high CAC scores were more likely to have more-severe brain MRI abnormalities, including subcortical infarction and high white matter hyperintensities. The associations between CAC and ventricular enlargement showed a similar but not significant trend. The presence of any of the MRI abnormalities attenuated the association between CAC and abnormal cognitive status.

CONCLUSION: Older adults with higher levels of CAC were more likely to have more-severe brain MRI abnormalities and abnormal cognitive status.

}, keywords = {Aged, Brain, Calcinosis, Cognition Disorders, Coronary Artery Disease, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Risk Factors, United States}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53208.x}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Naydeck, Barbara and Kuller, Lewis H and Longstreth, William T and Newman, Anne B} } @article {845, title = {C-reactive protein and the 10-year incidence of coronary heart disease in older men and women: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {112}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jul 05}, pages = {25-31}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: High C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with increased coronary heart disease risk. Few long-term data in the elderly are available.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Baseline CRP was measured in 3971 men and women > or =65 years of age without prior vascular diseases; 26\% had elevated concentrations (>3 mg/L). With 10 years of follow-up, 547 participants developed coronary heart disease (CHD; defined as myocardial infarction or coronary death). With elevated CRP, the 10-year cumulative CHD incidences were 33\% in men and 17\% in women. The age-, ethnicity-, and sex-adjusted relative risk of CHD for CRP >3 mg/L compared with <1 mg/L was 1.82 (95\% CI, 1.46 to 2.28). Adjusting for conventional risk factors reduced the relative risk to 1.45 (95\% CI, 1.14 to 1.86). The population-attributable risk of CHD for elevated CRP was 11\%. Risk relationships did not differ in subgroups defined by baseline risk factors. We assessed whether CRP improved prediction by the Framingham Risk Score. Among men with a 10-year Framingham-predicted risk of 10\% to 20\%, the observed CHD incidence was 32\% for elevated CRP. Among women, CRP discriminated best among those with a 10-year predicted risk >20\%; the incidences were 31\% and 10\% for elevated and normal CRP levels, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: In older men and women, elevated CRP was associated with increased 10-year risk of CHD, regardless of the presence or absence of cardiac risk factors. A single CRP measurement provided information beyond conventional risk assessment, especially in intermediate-Framingham-risk men and high-Framingham-risk women.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Coronary Disease, Female, Humans, Incidence, Inflammation, Male, Myocardial Infarction, Predictive Value of Tests, Risk Factors}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.504159}, author = {Cushman, Mary and Arnold, Alice M and Psaty, Bruce M and Manolio, Teri A and Kuller, Lewis H and Burke, Gregory L and Polak, Joseph F and Tracy, Russell P} } @article {852, title = {Dementia and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease incidence in relationship to cardiovascular disease in the Cardiovascular Health Study cohort.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {53}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jul}, pages = {1101-7}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), or noninvasive markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) predict the onset of dementia and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD).

DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING: Four U.S. communities.

PARTICIPANTS: Men and women (N=3,602) with a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan but no dementia were followed for 5.4 years. Participants with stroke were excluded.

MEASUREMENTS: Neurologists and psychiatrists classified incident cases of dementia and subtype using neuropsychological tests, examination, medical records and informant interviews. CVD was defined at the time of the MRI scan. Noninvasive tests of CVD were assessed within 1 year of the MRI. Apolipoprotein E allele status, age, race, sex, education, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and income were assessed as potential confounders.

RESULTS: The incidence of dementia was higher in those with prevalent CVD, particularly in the subgroup with PAD. The rate of AD was 34.4 per 1,000 person-years for those with a history of CVD, versus 22.2 per 1,000 person-years without a history of CVD (adjusted hazard ratio (HR)=1.3, 95\% confidence interval (CI)=1.0-1.7). Rates of AD were highest in those with PAD (57.4 vs 23.7 per 100 person-years, adjusted HR=2.4, 95\% CI=1.4-4.2). Results were similar with further exclusion of those with vascular dementia from the AD group. A gradient of increasing risk was noted with the extent of vascular disease.

CONCLUSION: Older adults with CVD other than stroke had a higher risk of dementia and AD than did those without CVD. The risk was highest in people with PAD, suggesting that extensive peripheral atherosclerosis is a risk factor for AD.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cohort Studies, Coronary Disease, Dementia, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Peripheral Vascular Diseases, Risk Factors}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53360.x}, author = {Newman, Anne B and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Lopez, Oscar and Jackson, Sharon and Lyketsos, Constantine and Jagust, William and Ives, Diane and DeKosky, Steven T and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {818, title = {Fish consumption and stroke risk in elderly individuals: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Arch Intern Med}, volume = {165}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jan 24}, pages = {200-6}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Associations between fish consumption and stroke risk have been inconsistent, possibly because of the differences in types of fish meals consumed. Additionally, such relationships have not been specifically evaluated in the elderly, in whom disease burden may be high and diet less influential.

METHODS: Among 4775 adults 65 years or older (range, 65-98 years) and free of known cerebrovascular disease at baseline in 1989-1990, usual dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. In a subset, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish, but not fried fish or fish sandwiches (fish burgers), correlated with plasma phospholipid long-chain n-3 fatty acid levels. Incident strokes were prospectively ascertained.

RESULTS: During 12 years of follow-up, participants experienced 626 incident strokes, including 529 ischemic strokes. In multivariate analyses, tuna/other fish consumption was inversely associated with total stroke (P = .04) and ischemic stroke (P = .02), with 27\% lower risk of ischemic stroke with an intake of 1 to 4 times per week (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 0.55-0.98) and 30\% lower risk with intake of 5 or more times per week (HR, 0.70; 95\% CI, 0.50-0.99) compared with an intake of less than once per month. In contrast, fried fish/fish sandwich consumption was positively associated with total stroke (P = .006) and ischemic stroke (P = .003), with a 44\% higher risk of ischemic stroke with consumption of more than once per week (HR, 1.44; 95\% CI, 1.12-1.85) compared with consumption of less than once per month. Fish consumption was not associated with hemorrhagic stroke.

CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly individuals, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish is associated with lower risk of ischemic stroke, while intake of fried fish or fish sandwiches is associated with higher risk. These results suggest that fish consumption may influence stroke risk late in life; potential mechanisms and alternate explanations warrant further study.

}, keywords = {Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Animals, Cohort Studies, Confidence Intervals, Diet, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Fish Oils, Fishes, Humans, Incidence, Male, Multivariate Analysis, Probability, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Assessment, Seafood, Sensitivity and Specificity, Sex Distribution, Stroke, Surveys and Questionnaires, Survival Rate, United States}, issn = {0003-9926}, doi = {10.1001/archinte.165.2.200}, author = {Mozaffarian, Dariush and Longstreth, W T and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Manolio, Teri A and Kuller, Lewis H and Burke, Gregory L and Siscovick, David S} } @article {853, title = {Hospitalization for pneumonia in the Cardiovascular Health Study: incidence, mortality, and influence on longer-term survival.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {53}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jul}, pages = {1108-16}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the rate of hospitalization for pneumonia in community-dwelling older adults and to assess its risk factors and contribution to mortality.

DESIGN: Prospective observational study.

SETTING: The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) in four U.S. communities.

PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand eight hundred eighty-eight men and women aged 65 and older who were followed for a median 10.7 years.

MEASUREMENTS: Participants were interviewed about medical history and demographics; evaluated for lung, physical, and cognitive function; and followed for hospitalizations, cardiovascular disease, and death.

RESULTS: Nearly 10\% of the cohort was hospitalized for pneumonia, for a rate of 11.1 per 1,000 person-years (95\% confidence interval (CI)=10.2-12.0). Risk factors included older age, male sex, current and past smoking, poor physical and lung function, and history of cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ten percent of participants died during their incident pneumonia hospitalization, and death rates were high in those who survived to discharge. Compared with participants who had not been hospitalized for pneumonia, the relative risk of total mortality was 4.9 (95\% CI=4.1-6.0) during the first year after hospitalization and 2.6 (95\% CI=2.2-3.1) thereafter, adjusted for age, sex, and race. The respective relative risks were 3.9 (95\% CI=3.1-4.8) and 2.0 (95\% CI=1.6-2.4) after further adjustment for baseline history of cardiovascular disease; diabetes mellitus; smoking; and measures of lung, physical, and cognitive function.

CONCLUSION: In older people, hospitalization for pneumonia is common and is associated with an elevated risk of death, as shown in this population-based, prospective cohort.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition, Comorbidity, Diabetes Complications, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Mortality, Pneumonia, Prospective Studies, Respiratory Physiological Phenomena, Risk Factors, Smoking}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53352.x}, author = {O{\textquoteright}Meara, Ellen S and White, Mark and Siscovick, David S and Lyles, Mary F and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {820, title = {Incidence of cardiovascular disease in older Americans: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {53}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Feb}, pages = {211-8}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To estimate incidence rates of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older Americans.

DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study using prospectively collected data on cardiovascular events.

SETTING: Four U.S. communities in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS).

PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand eight hundred eighty-eight participants in CHS, aged 65 or older at enrollment, including 3,393 women (581 African American) and 2,495 men (343 African American).

MEASUREMENTS: At semiannual contacts, participants reported any occurrence of clinical CVD. Medical records were obtained and adjudicated to confirm diagnosis of CVD.

RESULTS: During 10 years of follow-up, incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) per 1,000 person-years was 39.6 (95\% confidence interval (CI)=36.4-43.1) in men and 22.3 (95\% CI=20.4-24.2) in women. Cumulative event rates for CHD and myocardial infarction for women aged 75 and older at baseline were similar to those for men aged 65 to 74. The overall incidence of stroke was similar for men and women (14.7 (95\% CI=13.0-16.6) and 13.7 (95\% CI=12.4-15.1) per 1,000 person-years, respectively), but the risk of stroke increased with age more rapidly in women, resulting in a greater cumulative event rate for stroke in women than in men aged 75 and older. The incidence of congestive heart failure increased 9\% with each year of age over 65 and was greater than 6\% per year in Caucasian men and women aged 85 and older at baseline. Rates were similar in African Americans and Caucasians.

CONCLUSION: The occurrence of new CVD in older Americans is high, indicating that preventive efforts need to be maintained into older ages.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Sex Distribution, Survival Rate, United States}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53105.x}, author = {Arnold, Alice M and Psaty, Bruce M and Kuller, Lewis H and Burke, Gregory L and Manolio, Teri A and Fried, Linda P and Robbins, John A and Kronmal, Richard A} } @article {824, title = {Physical activity, APOE genotype, and dementia risk: findings from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study.}, journal = {Am J Epidemiol}, volume = {161}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Apr 01}, pages = {639-51}, abstract = {

Physical activity may help preserve cognitive function and decrease dementia risk, but epidemiologic findings are inconsistent. The authors conducted a prospective study to determine the association between physical activity and risk of dementia, Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, and vascular dementia. The US study population comprised 3,375 men and women aged 65 years or older, free of dementia at baseline, who participated in the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study in 1992-2000. Leisure-time energy expenditure and an activity index reflecting number of different physical activities were calculated. Analyses were based on Cox proportional hazards models. There were 480 incident cases of dementia over an average of 5.4 years of follow-up. After multivariate adjustment, participants in the highest quartile of physical energy expenditure had a relative risk of dementia of 0.85 (95\% confidence interval: 0.61, 1.19) compared with those in the lowest quartile, and participants engaging in >or=4 activities had a relative risk of dementia of 0.51 (95\% confidence interval: 0.33, 0.79) compared with those engaging in 0-1 activity. These associations were more marked in apolipoprotein E genotype (APOE) epsilon4 allele noncarriers but were absent in carriers. A similar pattern was observed for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease and vascular dementia. Mechanisms to explain the observed relations deserve further study.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoproteins E, Dementia, Dementia, Vascular, Female, Genotype, Humans, Male, Motor Activity, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, United States}, issn = {0002-9262}, doi = {10.1093/aje/kwi092}, author = {Podewils, Laura Jean and Guallar, Eliseo and Kuller, Lewis H and Fried, Linda P and Lopez, Oscar L and Carlson, Michelle and Lyketsos, Constantine G} } @article {846, title = {Statin use and the risk of incident dementia: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Arch Neurol}, volume = {62}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jul}, pages = {1047-51}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) reduce cardiovascular risk through mechanisms that might affect the development of dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether statin use is associated with a lower risk of dementia compared with never use of lipid-lowering agents (LLAs).

DESIGN: Cohort study of community-dwelling adults 65 years and older. The analysis included 2798 participants free of dementia at baseline.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, we estimated the risk of incident all-cause and type-specific dementia associated with time-dependent statin therapy compared with never use of LLAs. The primary analyses incorporated a 1-year lag between exposure and outcome. Secondary analyses included the final year of exposure and modeled statin use as current use vs nonuse to simulate a case-control approach.

RESULTS: Compared with never use of LLAs, ever use of statins was not associated with the risk of all-cause dementia (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-1.52), Alzheimer disease alone (HR, 1.21; 95\% CI, 0.76-1.91), mixed Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia (HR, 0.87; 95\% CI, 0.44-1.72), or vascular dementia alone (HR, 1.36; 95\% CI, 0.61-3.06). In contrast, in secondary analyses, current use of statins compared with nonuse of LLAs was associated with HRs of 0.69 (95\% CI, 0.46-1.02) for all-cause dementia and 0.56 (95\% CI, 0.35-0.92) for any Alzheimer disease.

CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort study, statin therapy was not associated with a decreased risk of dementia. Methodological differences may explain why results of this cohort investigation differ from those of prior case-control studies. Additional investigation is needed to determine whether and for whom statin use may affect dementia risk.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cohort Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Hyperlipidemias, Male}, issn = {0003-9942}, doi = {10.1001/archneur.62.7.1047}, author = {Rea, Thomas D and Breitner, John C and Psaty, Bruce M and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Lopez, Oscar L and Newman, Anne B and Hazzard, William R and Zandi, Peter P and Burke, Gregory L and Lyketsos, Constantine G and Bernick, Charles and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {830, title = {Subclinical brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities predict physical functional decline in high-functioning older adults.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {53}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Apr}, pages = {649-54}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether severity of subclinical brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities predicts incident self-reported physical impairment or rate of decline in motor performance.

DESIGN: Longitudinal analysis, average follow-up time: 4.0 years.

SETTING: Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS).

PARTICIPANTS: CHS participants with modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) score of 80 or greater, no self-reported disability, no history of stroke, and at least one assessment of mobility (n=2,450, mean age=74.4).

MEASUREMENTS: Brain MRI abnormalities (ventricular enlargement, white matter hyperintensities, subcortical and basal ganglia small brain infarcts), self-reported physical impairment (difficulty walking half a mile or with one or more activities of daily living), and motor performance (gait speed, timed chair stand).

RESULTS: After adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and diseases, risk of incident self-reported physical impairment was 35\% greater for those with severe ventricular enlargement than for those with minimal ventricular enlargement, 22\% greater for those with moderate white matter hyperintensities than for those with minimal white matter hyperintensities, and 26\% greater for participants with at least one brain infarct than for those with no infarcts. Those with moderate to severe brain abnormalities experienced faster gait speed decline (0.02 m/s per year) than those with no MRI abnormalities (0.01 m/s per year). Further adjustment for incident stroke, incident dementia, and 3MS score did not substantially attenuate hazard ratios for incident self-reported physical impairment or coefficients for decline in gait speed.

CONCLUSION: Subclinical structural brain abnormalities in high-functioning older adults can increase the risk of developing physical disabilities and declining in motor performance.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Brain, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Gait, Humans, Incidence, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Proportional Hazards Models, Psychomotor Disorders, Risk Factors, United States}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53214.x}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Kuller, Lewis H and Chung, Hyoju and Arnold, Alice M and Longstreth, William T and Newman, Anne B} } @article {823, title = {Survival following dementia onset: Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease and vascular dementia.}, journal = {J Neurol Sci}, volume = {229-230}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Mar 15}, pages = {43-9}, abstract = {

Survival following the onset of dementia has been reported to vary from 3 to over 9 years. We examined mortality in 3602 participants of the Cardiovascular Health (CHS) Cognition Study in four US communities evaluated for dementia incidence between 1992 and 1999 and followed for 6.5 years. By June 2000, 33 of 62 (53.2\%) participants who developed vascular dementia (VaD) had died compared to 79 of 245 (32.2\%) with Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD), 66 of 151 (43.7\%) with both AD and VaD, and 429 of 2318 (18.5\%) with normal cognition. Using Cox proportional hazards regression with a time-dependent covariate for dementia status adjusted for age, gender and race, individuals with VaD were more than four times as likely to die during follow-up than those with normal cognition (HR: 4.4, 95\% CI: 3.1-6.3). The hazard ratios were 2.1 (95\% CI: 1.6-2.7) for AD and 2.5 (95\% CI: 1.9-3.3) for both types. Adjusted accelerated life models estimated median survival from dementia onset to death as 3.9 years for those with VaD, 7.1 years for AD, 5.4 years for mixed dementia, and 11.0 years for matched controls with normal cognition. While persons with VaD died primarily from cerebrovascular disease, those with AD/mixed dementia died more frequently from dementia/failure to thrive.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Capillaries, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Female, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies}, issn = {0022-510X}, doi = {10.1016/j.jns.2004.11.022}, author = {Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Kawas, Claudia H and Jagust, William} } @article {878, title = {10-year follow-up of subclinical cardiovascular disease and risk of coronary heart disease in the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Arch Intern Med}, volume = {166}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Jan 09}, pages = {71-8}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is very high among individuals 65 years or older.

METHODS: We evaluated the relationships between measurements of subclinical disease at baseline (1989-1990) and at the third-year follow-up examination (1992-1993) and subsequent incidence of cardiovascular disease and total mortality as of June 2001. Approximately 61\% of the participants without clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline had subclinical disease based on our previously described criteria from the Cardiovascular Health Study.

RESULTS: The incidence of CHD was substantially increased for participants with subclinical disease compared with those who had no subclinical disease: 30.5 per 1000 person-years with and 16.3 per 1000 person-years without for white individuals, and 31.2 per 1000 person-years with and 12.5 per 1000 person-years without for black individuals. The risk persisted over the entire follow-up period. Incidence rates were higher for men than for women with or without subclinical disease, but there was little difference in rates for black individuals and white individuals.

CONCLUSIONS: In multivariable models, subclinical disease at baseline remained a significant predictor of CHD in both men and women; the hazard ratios (95\% confidence intervals) of their relative risks were 1.64 (1.30-2.06) and 1.49 (1.21-1.84), respectively. The presence of subclinical disease substantially increased the risk of subsequent CHD for participants with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or elevated C-reactive protein. In summary, subclinical disease is very prevalent among older individuals, is independently associated with risk of CHD even over a 10-year follow-up period, and substantially increases the risk of CHD among participants with hypertension or diabetes mellitus.

}, keywords = {African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, Blood Chemical Analysis, Cardiovascular Diseases, Comorbidity, Coronary Disease, Echocardiography, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Multivariate Analysis, Prevalence, Proportional Hazards Models, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, United States}, issn = {0003-9926}, doi = {10.1001/archinte.166.1.71}, author = {Kuller, Lewis H and Arnold, Alice M and Psaty, Bruce M and Robbins, John A and O{\textquoteright}Leary, Daniel H and Tracy, Russell P and Burke, Gregory L and Manolio, Teri A and Chaves, Paolo H M} } @article {881, title = {Alcohol consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {54}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Jan}, pages = {30-7}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate several aspects of the relationship between alcohol use and coronary heart disease in older adults, including beverage type, mediating factors, and type of outcome.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Four U.S. communities.

PARTICIPANTS: Four thousand four hundred ten adults aged 65 and older free of cardiovascular disease at baseline.

MEASUREMENTS: Risk of incident myocardial infarction or coronary death according to self-reported consumption of beer, wine, and spirits ascertained yearly.

RESULTS: During an average follow-up period of 9.2 years, 675 cases of incident myocardial infarction or coronary death occurred. Compared with long-term abstainers, multivariate relative risks of 0.90 (95\% confidence interval (CI)=0.71-1.14), 0.93 (95\% CI=0.73-1.20), 0.76 (95\% CI=0.53-1.10), and 0.58 (95\% CI=0.39-0.86) were found in consumers of less than one, one to six, seven to 13, and 14 or more drinks per week, respectively (P for trend=.007). Associations were similar for secondary coronary outcomes, including nonfatal and fatal events. No strong mediators of the association were identified, although fibrinogen appeared to account for 9\% to 10\% of the relationship. The associations were statistically similar for intake of wine, beer, and liquor and generally similar in subgroups, including those with and without an apolipoprotein E4 allele.

CONCLUSION: In this population, consumption of 14 or more drinks per week was associated with the lowest risk of coronary heart disease, although clinicians should not recommend moderate drinking to prevent coronary heart disease based on this evidence alone, because current National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines suggest that older adults limit alcohol intake to one drink per day.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Apolipoproteins E, Beer, Cohort Studies, Coronary Disease, Female, Genotype, Health Behavior, Humans, Incidence, Male, Residence Characteristics, Risk Assessment, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Wine}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.00561.x}, author = {Mukamal, Kenneth J and Chung, Hyoju and Jenny, Nancy S and Kuller, Lewis H and Longstreth, W T and Mittleman, Murray A and Burke, Gregory L and Cushman, Mary and Psaty, Bruce M and Siscovick, David S} } @article {932, title = {Association of polymorphisms in the CRP gene with circulating C-reactive protein levels and cardiovascular events.}, journal = {JAMA}, volume = {296}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Dec 13}, pages = {2703-11}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammation protein that may play a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether polymorphisms in the CRP gene are associated with plasma CRP, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and CVD events.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In the prospective, population-based Cardiovascular Health Study, 4 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (1919A/T, 2667G/C, 3872G/A, 5237A/G) were genotyped in 3941 white (European American) participants and 5 tag SNPs (addition of 790A/T) were genotyped in 700 black (African American) participants, aged 65 years or older, all of whom were without myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke before study entry. Median follow-up was 13 years (1989-2003).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline CIMT; occurrence of MI, stroke, and CVD mortality during follow-up.

RESULTS: In white participants, 461 incident MIs, 491 incident strokes, and 490 CVD-related deaths occurred; in black participants, 67 incident MIs, 78 incident strokes, and 75 CVD-related deaths occurred. The 1919T and 790T alleles were associated with higher CRP levels in white and black participants, respectively. The 3872A allele was associated with lower CRP levels in both populations, and the 2667C allele was associated with lower CRP levels in white participants only. There was no association between CIMT and any CRP gene polymorphism in either population. In white participants, the 1919T allele was associated with increased risk of stroke for TT vs AA (hazard ratio [HR], 1.40; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.87) and for CVD mortality (HR, 1.40; 95\% CI, 1.10-1.90). In black participants, homozygosity for the 790T allele was associated with a 4-fold increased risk of MI compared with homozygosity for the 790A allele (95\% CI, 1.58-10.53). The minor alleles of the 2 SNPs associated with lower plasma CRP concentration in white participants (2667C and 3872A) were associated with decreased risk of CVD mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variation in the CRP gene is associated with plasma CRP levels and CVD risk in older adults.

}, keywords = {African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Carotid Arteries, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Genotype, Humans, Male, Myocardial Infarction, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk, Stroke, Tunica Intima}, issn = {1538-3598}, doi = {10.1001/jama.296.22.2703}, author = {Lange, Leslie A and Carlson, Christopher S and Hindorff, Lucia A and Lange, Ethan M and Walston, Jeremy and Durda, J Peter and Cushman, Mary and Bis, Joshua C and Zeng, Donglin and Lin, Danyu and Kuller, Lewis H and Nickerson, Deborah A and Psaty, Bruce M and Tracy, Russell P and Reiner, Alexander P} } @article {893, title = {Beta2-adrenergic receptor genetic variants and risk of sudden cardiac death.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {113}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Apr 18}, pages = {1842-8}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Sympathetic activation influences the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD), mediated in part by the beta2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR). We investigated whether variation in the B2AR gene is associated with SCD risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, 4441 white and 808 black Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) participants were followed up prospectively for SCD and genotyped for B2AR Gly16Arg and Gln27Glu polymorphisms. The study was replicated in 155 case and 144 control white subjects in a population-based case-control study of SCD, the Cardiac Arrest Blood Study (CABS). In CHS, Gly16 and Gln27 allele frequencies were 62.4\% and 57.1\% among white and 50.1\% and 81.4\% among black participants. Over a median follow-up of 11.1 years, 156 and 39 SCD events occurred in white and black participants, respectively. The Gln27Glu variant was associated with SCD risk (P=0.008 for general model). SCD risk was higher in Gln27 homozygous participants than in Glu27 carriers (ethnicity-adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.56; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.17 to 2.09; P=0.003). The increased risk did not differ significantly between white (HR, 1.62; 95\% CI, 1.18 to 2.23) and black (HR, 1.23; 95\% CI, 0.61 to 2.48) participants, although the confidence interval was wide in blacks. In the CABS replication study, Gln27 homozygous participants similarly had higher SCD risk than Glu27 carriers (odds ratio, 1.64; 95\% CI, 1.02 to 2.63; P=0.040). Gly16Arg was not associated with SCD risk in either study.

CONCLUSIONS: Gln27 homozygous individuals have an increased risk of SCD in 2 study populations. Our findings suggest that B2AR plays a role in SCD in humans. Study of genetic variation within the B2AR gene may help identify those at increased SCD risk.

}, keywords = {African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, Case-Control Studies, Death, Sudden, Cardiac, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Gene Frequency, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genetic Variation, Glutamine, Haplotypes, Homozygote, Humans, Male, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2, Reproducibility of Results}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.582833}, author = {Sotoodehnia, Nona and Siscovick, David S and Vatta, Matteo and Psaty, Bruce M and Tracy, Russell P and Towbin, Jeffrey A and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Rea, Thomas D and Durda, J Peter and Chang, Joel M and Lumley, Thomas S and Kuller, Lewis H and Burke, Gregory L and Heckbert, Susan R} } @article {899, title = {Education, cognitive test scores, and black-white differences in dementia risk.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {54}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Jun}, pages = {898-905}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To compare dementia risks of elderly black and white subjects and to determine whether differences in education and cognitive test scores contribute to the inconsistency in reported differences between these groups.

DESIGN: Longitudinal, 6-year follow-up.

PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand seven hundred eighty-six older black and white subjects in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

MEASUREMENTS: Age, education (>10 years vs < or =10 years), Modified Mini-Mental State Examination score (3MS, < or =85 vs >85). Potential confounders were sex, depression, apolipoprotein E4 genotype, vascular disease, and baseline magnetic resonance imaging changes.

RESULTS: White subjects with low education and black subjects with high education had twice the risk of dementia of white subjects with high education (95\% confidence interval (CI)=1.5-2.4 and 95\% CI=1.4-2.7); black subjects with low education had five times the risk of dementia (95\% CI=3.4-7.7). Likewise, for subjects with low 3MSE scores, black subjects had 6.7 times the risk of dementia (95\% CI=4.7-9.7) and white subjects had 2.7 times the risk of dementia (95\% CI=2.2-3.5) as white subjects with high 3MSE scores. Finally, in Cox models, there was no significant black-white difference in dementia risk after adjustment for all confounders and baseline 3MSE.

CONCLUSION: Black race was associated with greater dementia risk even after adjustment for education and other potential confounders. This black-white difference in dementia risk was markedly attenuated after adjustment for baseline cognitive screening scores. The apparent race effect may reflect gaps in the quality of education or differences in the trajectory of impaired cognitive function experienced by the two groups. Future investigations might take these findings into consideration for the design of studies evaluating black-white differences in dementia risk.

}, keywords = {African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, Cognition, Dementia, Educational Status, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Psychological Tests, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, United States}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2006.00747.x}, author = {Shadlen, Marie-Florence and Siscovick, David and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Dulberg, Corinne and Kuller, Lewis H and Jackson, Sharon} } @article {900, title = {Factors associated with geographic variations in stroke incidence among older populations in four US communities.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {37}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Aug}, pages = {1980-5}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), we previously observed lower stroke incidence in Allegheny County, PA compared with the other 3 study sites. The purpose of this study was to study possible reasons for the lower stroke incidence in Allegheny County.

METHODS: CHS participants 65 years or older who were stroke-free at baseline (n=5639) were followed between 1989 to 1990 and 2000 for the development of stroke. Risk factors at baseline and their subsequent control were compared among both groups. Site-specific hazard ratios for stroke incidence were calculated using Cox regression models.

RESULTS: The unadjusted hazard ratio for total stroke incidence in Forsyth County, NC; Sacramento County, CA; and Washington County, MD combined compared with Allegheny County, PA was 1.74 (95\% CI: 1.42, 2.14). After adjustment for age and other traditional risk factors, there was modest reduction of the excess hazard in non-Allegheny sites compared with Allegheny County (hazard ratio=1.52, 95\% CI: 1.17, 1.98). Between baseline and the seventh-year visits, control of hypertension, diabetes, lipids, smoking, atrial fibrillation and transient ischemic attack were similar across sites. White matter grade > or = 3 on the baseline brain MRI was less common in Allegheny County (25.8\% versus 36.3\%, respectively; P<0.001) and accounted for 25\% of the excess hazard in non-Allegheny sites compared with Allegheny County.

CONCLUSIONS: Site differences in stroke risk factors at baseline and subsequent control only partially explain site differences in stroke incidence. White matter grade as a possible integrated measure of exposure and control of risk factors may help in explaining geographic variations in stroke incidence.

}, keywords = {Aged, Brain, California, Female, Humans, Incidence, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Stroke}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/01.STR.0000231454.77745.d9}, author = {El-Saed, Aiman and Kuller, Lewis H and Newman, Anne B and Lopez, Oscar and Costantino, Joseph and McTigue, Kathleen and Cushman, Mary and Kronmal, Richard} } @article {901, title = {Geographic variations in stroke incidence and mortality among older populations in four US communities.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {37}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Aug}, pages = {1975-9}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the US. There is limited data on geographic variations in stroke incidence among older US populations who experience the majority of stroke burden. The purpose of this study was to compare stroke incidence and mortality rates in 4 US communities.

METHODS: Participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) who had no history of stroke at baseline (n=5639) were followed for 10 or 7 years in predominantly white (n=5002) and black (n=637) participants, respectively. Incident stroke was validated by a stroke adjudication committee after ascertainment at annual visits, interim telephone contacts, and review of Medicare hospitalization data.

RESULTS: The 2000 US population age and sex standardized total stroke incidence rate for all CHS participants was 17.7 per 1000 person-years (95\% CI: 15.9, 19.5). The rate was significantly lower in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania 9.6/1000 person-years (95\% CI: 7.7, 11.5) than Forsyth County, North Carolina 19.2/1000 person-years (95\% CI: 15.6, 22.8), Sacramento County, California 20.7/1000 person-years (95\% CI: 16.9, 24.5), and Washington County, Maryland 19.8/1000 person-years (95\% CI: 16.1, 23.5). The lower stroke incidence rate in Allegheny County was consistent in gender, race, and age groups. Though not statistically significant, stroke mortality was also lower in Allegheny County than other 3 sites. The 1-month case fatality rate was similar in the 4 sites for all strokes, and by stroke types.

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding geographic variations in stroke incidence may be an important step in improving preventive practices of stroke.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, California, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Stroke}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/01.STR.0000231453.98473.67}, author = {El-Saed, Aiman and Kuller, Lewis H and Newman, Anne B and Lopez, Oscar and Costantino, Joseph and McTigue, Kathleen and Cushman, Mary and Kronmal, Richard} } @article {872, title = {Lipoprotein subclass and particle size differences in Afro-Caribbeans, African Americans, and white Americans: associations with hepatic lipase gene variation.}, journal = {Metabolism}, volume = {55}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Jan}, pages = {96-102}, abstract = {

Despite a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease risk factors, men of African origin have less coronary atherosclerosis, as measured by coronary calcification, than whites. In part, this is thought to be because of the less atherogenic lipoprotein profile observed in men of African origin, characterized by lower triglycerides and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. We hypothesized that the -514C>T polymorphism in the hepatic lipase gene (LIPC) plays a significant role in determining a less atherogenic lipoprotein profile observed in men of African origin. Previously conducted studies of the LIPC -514C>T polymorphism in African Americans may have been confounded by a higher level of European admixture; in addition, the results from these studies do not necessarily apply to other African populations because gene-environment interactions may differ. Thus, we compared nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-measured lipoprotein subclass patterns and LIPC -514C>T genotypes in population-based samples of older white American (n = 532) and African American (n = 97) men from the Cardiovascular Health Study to those among older, less admixed, Afro-Caribbean men (n = 205) from the Tobago Health Study. Men of African origin had a more favorable lipoprotein profile than whites. In addition, levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride, and large and small very low-density lipoprotein, small low-density lipoprotein, as well as very low-density lipoprotein particle size, were remarkably lower in Afro-Caribbean men than in either African American or white men. The frequency of the LIPC -514T allele was much higher in Afro-Caribbeans (0.57) and in African Americans (0.49) than in whites (0.20). The -514T allele in both populations of African origin, but not in whites, was associated with elevated large HDL and greater HDL size. Our findings indicate that the higher frequency of the LIPC -514T allele found in men of African origin living in different environments significantly contributes to the more favorable distribution of HDL subclasses compared with whites.

}, keywords = {Adult, African Americans, Age Factors, Aged, Alleles, Body Mass Index, Cardiovascular Diseases, Caribbean Region, Cohort Studies, DNA, European Continental Ancestry Group, Gene Frequency, Genetic Variation, Humans, Lipase, Lipoproteins, Lipoproteins, HDL, Lipoproteins, LDL, Liver, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Particle Size, Trinidad and Tobago, United States}, issn = {0026-0495}, doi = {10.1016/j.metabol.2005.07.011}, author = {Miljkovic-Gacic, Iva and Bunker, Clareann H and Ferrell, Robert E and Kammerer, Candace M and Evans, Rhobert W and Patrick, Alan L and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {923, title = {Mortality in pharmacologically treated older adults with diabetes: the Cardiovascular Health Study, 1989-2001.}, journal = {PLoS Med}, volume = {3}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Oct}, pages = {e400}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) confers an increased risk of mortality in young and middle-aged individuals and in women. It is uncertain, however, whether excess DM mortality continues beyond age 75 years, is related to type of hypoglycemic therapy, and whether women continue to be disproportionately affected by DM into older age.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: From the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective study of 5,888 adults, we examined 5,372 participants aged 65 y or above without DM (91.2\%), 322 with DM treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHGAs) (5.5\%), and 194 with DM treated with insulin (3.3\%). Participants were followed (1989-2001) for total, cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), and non-CVD/noncancer mortality. Compared with non-DM participants, those treated with OHGAs or insulin had adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for total mortality of 1.33 (95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.10 to 1.62) and 2.04 (95\% CI, 1.62 to 2.57); CVD mortality, 1.99 (95\% CI, 1.54 to 2.57) and 2.16 (95\% CI, 1.54 to 3.03); CHD mortality, 2.47 (95\% CI, 1.89 to 3.24) and 2.75 (95\% CI, 1.95 to 3.87); and infectious and renal mortality, 1.35 (95\% CI, 0.70 to 2.59) and 6.55 (95\% CI, 4.18 to 10.26), respectively. The interaction of age (65-74 y versus > or =75 y) with DM was not significant. Women treated with OHGAs had a similar HR for total mortality to men, but a higher HR when treated with insulin.

CONCLUSIONS: DM mortality risk remains high among older adults in the current era of medical care. Mortality risk and type of mortality differ between OHGA and insulin treatment. Women treated with insulin therapy have an especially high mortality risk. Given the high absolute CVD mortality in older people, those with DM warrant aggressive CVD risk factor reduction.

}, keywords = {Administration, Oral, Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Coronary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Female, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin, Male, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Sex Distribution}, issn = {1549-1676}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pmed.0030400}, author = {Kronmal, Richard A and Barzilay, Joshua I and Smith, Nicholas L and Psaty, Bruce M and Kuller, Lewis H and Burke, Gregory L and Furberg, Curt} } @article {903, title = {Plasma phospholipid trans fatty acids, fatal ischemic heart disease, and sudden cardiac death in older adults: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {114}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Jul 18}, pages = {209-15}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Intake of trans fatty acids is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Whether different classes of trans fatty acids show similar associations is unclear. We previously reported an association of sudden cardiac death with red cell membrane trans-18:2 but not trans-18:1 fatty acids. To extend these findings, we investigated the associations of plasma phospholipid trans fatty acids with fatal ischemic heart disease (IHD) and sudden cardiac death.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a case-control study nested in the Cardiovascular Health Study. We identified 214 cases of fatal IHD (fatal myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease death) between 1992 and 1998. We randomly selected 214 controls, matched to cases on demographics, prevalent cardiovascular disease, and timing of blood draw. Plasma phospholipid fatty acids were assessed in blood samples collected earlier. Higher levels of plasma phospholipid trans-18:2 fatty acids were associated with higher risk of fatal IHD (odds ratio [OR] for interquintile range 1.68, 95\% confidence interval [CI] 1.21 to 2.33) after adjustment for risk factors and trans-18:1 levels. Trans-18:1 levels above the 20th percentile were associated with lower risk (OR 0.34, 95\% CI 0.18 to 0.63). In analyses limited to cases of sudden cardiac death (n=95), higher levels of trans-18:2 fatty acids were associated with higher risk (OR 2.34, 95\% CI 1.27 to 4.31) and higher trans-18:1 with lower risk (OR 0.18, 95\% CI 0.06 to 0.54).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of trans-18:2 and lower levels of trans-18:1 fatty acids are associated with higher risks of fatal IHD and sudden cardiac death. If confirmed, these findings suggest that current efforts at decreasing trans fatty acid intake in foods should take into consideration the trans-18:2 content.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Case-Control Studies, Coronary Disease, Death, Sudden, Cardiac, Female, Humans, Male, Myocardial Ischemia, Phospholipids, Trans Fatty Acids, United States}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.620336}, author = {Lemaitre, Rozenn N and King, Irena B and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Sotoodehnia, Nona and Rea, Thomas D and Kuller, Lewis H and Tracy, Russel P and Siscovick, David S} } @article {898, title = {The prevalence of the 65-kilodalton isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies by glucose tolerance status in elderly patients from the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {J Clin Endocrinol Metab}, volume = {91}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Aug}, pages = {2871-7}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: Autoantibodies (AA) to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), a determinant of risk for autoimmune diabetes, have been found in up to 10\% of patients with type 2 diabetes. In older adults, this marker may also serve as a determinant of risk for autoimmune diabetes and enhance diabetes classification.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between GAD65AA and glucose tolerance status, current diabetes treatment, and clinical measures in older adults.

DESIGN: GAD65AA were measured at baseline in 3318 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a cohort study of 5888 individuals 65 or older.

SETTING: The population-based cohort was recruited from four U.S. sites.

PATIENTS: Patients included all Cardiovascular Health Study participants with known diabetes, newly diagnosed diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and a sample of normal glucose-tolerant participants.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: GAD65AA, body mass index, fasting glucose and insulin levels, blood pressure, lipid levels, and diabetes treatment at baseline were measured.

RESULTS: The prevalence of GAD65AA increased with decreasing glucose tolerance in both Blacks (n = 560) and Whites (n = 2730), being more pronounced in known diabetic individuals. GAD65AA were found in 2.3, 5.8, 7.8, and 8.3\% of diabetic participants, reporting use of no diabetes medication, oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin only, and both oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin, respectively (P = 0.02, linear trend). Among diabetic participants, GAD65AA positivity was associated with diabetes treatment, higher fasting glucose, and lower body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS: Even among older individuals with diabetes, GAD65AA may be a useful marker in identifying a subgroup of autoimmune diabetes, serve as a marker of insulin requirement, and remain stable over years.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Autoantibodies, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cohort Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Fasting, Female, Glucose Intolerance, Glutamate Decarboxylase, Humans, Insulin, Isoenzymes, Lipids, Logistic Models, Male, Nutrition Surveys}, issn = {0021-972X}, doi = {10.1210/jc.2005-2667}, author = {Barinas-Mitchell, Emma and Kuller, Lewis H and Pietropaolo, Susan and Zhang, Ying-Jian and Henderson, Tyona and Pietropaolo, Massimo} } @article {890, title = {Thyroid status, cardiovascular risk, and mortality in older adults.}, journal = {JAMA}, volume = {295}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Mar 01}, pages = {1033-41}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: Previous studies have suggested that subclinical abnormalities in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels are associated with detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between baseline thyroid status and incident atrial fibrillation, incident cardiovascular disease, and mortality in older men and women not taking thyroid medication.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3233 US community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or older with baseline serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were enrolled in 1989-1990 in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a large, prospective cohort study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incident atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death assessed through June 2002. Analyses are reported for 4 groups defined according to thyroid function test results: subclinical hyperthyroidism, euthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism.

RESULTS: Individuals with overt thyrotoxicosis (n = 4) were excluded because of small numbers. Eighty-two percent of participants (n = 2639) had normal thyroid function, 15\% (n = 496) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 1.6\% (n = 51) had overt hypothyroidism, and 1.5\% (n = 47) had subclinical hyperthyroidism. After exclusion of those with prevalent atrial fibrillation, individuals with subclinical hyperthyroidism had a greater incidence of atrial fibrillation compared with those with normal thyroid function (67 events vs 31 events per 1000 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.98; 95\% confidence interval, 1.29-3.03). No differences were seen between the subclinical hyperthyroidism group and euthyroidism group for incident coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular death, or all-cause death. Likewise, there were no differences between the subclinical hypothyroidism or overt hypothyroidism groups and the euthyroidism group for cardiovascular outcomes or mortality. Specifically, individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism had an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.07 (95\% confidence interval, 0.90-1.28) for incident coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSION: Our data show an association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and development of atrial fibrillation but do not support the hypothesis that unrecognized subclinical hyperthyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with other cardiovascular disorders or mortality.

}, keywords = {Aged, Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Humans, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Male, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Thyroid Gland, Thyrotropin}, issn = {1538-3598}, doi = {10.1001/jama.295.9.1033}, author = {Cappola, Anne R and Fried, Linda P and Arnold, Alice M and Danese, Mark D and Kuller, Lewis H and Burke, Gregory L and Tracy, Russell P and Ladenson, Paul W} } @article {959, title = {Alcohol consumption and lipoprotein subclasses in older adults.}, journal = {J Clin Endocrinol Metab}, volume = {92}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Jul}, pages = {2559-66}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: Limited evidence suggests that alcohol intake may be associated with lipoprotein subclass distribution, which could mediate its relationship with coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to determine the relationship of alcohol intake with lipoprotein particle subclasses.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The study included a cross-sectional analysis of 1850 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study aged 65 yr and older and free of clinical cardiovascular disease.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Lipoprotein subclass distribution was measured with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, according to self-reported alcohol intake.

RESULTS: Alcohol intake was associated with total low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles in a U-shaped manner. Consumers of one or more drinks per week had the highest number of large LDL particles, whereas consumers of 7-13 drinks per week had the lowest number of small LDL particles. Alcohol intake was strongly positively associated with large- and medium-sized high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles but had an inverse relationship with concentrations of small HDL particles and small- and medium-sized very-low-density lipoprotein particles. Average particle sizes of all three lipoproteins were positively associated with alcohol intake. Associations were generally stronger among women than men but in similar directions. Beverage type did not consistently modify these findings.

CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol intake is associated with less total LDL particles, lower levels of small LDL, HDL, and very-low-density lipoprotein particles, and higher levels of large LDL and medium- and large-sized HDL particles in older adults free of prevalent clinical cardiovascular disease.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Cholesterol, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Cholesterol, VLDL, Coronary Disease, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors}, issn = {0021-972X}, doi = {10.1210/jc.2006-2422}, author = {Mukamal, Kenneth J and Mackey, Rachel H and Kuller, Lewis H and Tracy, Russell P and Kronmal, Richard A and Mittleman, Murray A and Siscovick, David S} } @article {939, title = {Alcohol consumption and risk and prognosis of atrial fibrillation among older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am Heart J}, volume = {153}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Feb}, pages = {260-6}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The relationship of alcohol consumption with risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) is inconsistent in previous studies, and its relationship with prognosis of AF is undetermined.

METHODS: As part of the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort of adults 65 years and older from 4 US communities, 5609 participants reported their use of beer, wine, and spirits yearly. We identified cases of AF with routine study electrocardiograms and validated discharge diagnoses from hospitalizations.

RESULTS: A total of 1232 cases of AF were documented during a mean of 9.1 years of follow-up. Compared with long-term abstainers, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were 1.25 (95\% CI, 1.02-1.54) among former drinkers, 1.09 (95\% CI, 0.94-1.28) among consumers of less than 1 drink per week, 1.00 (95\% CI, 0.84-1.19) among consumers of 1 to 6 drinks per week, 1.06 (95\% CI, 0.82-1.37) among consumers of 7 to 13 drinks per week, and 1.09 (95\% CI, 0.88-1.37) among consumers of 14 or more drinks per week (P trend = 0.64). In analyses of mortality among participants with AF, the hazard ratios were 1.27 (95\% CI, 1.06-1.52) among former drinkers, 0.94 (95\% CI, 0.76-1.18) among consumers of less than 1 drink per week, 0.98 (95\% CI, 0.78-1.23) among consumers of 1 to 6 drinks per week, 0.73 (95\% CI, 0.51-1.03) among consumers of 7 to 13 drinks per week, and 0.81 (95\% CI, 0.59-1.11) among consumers of 14 or more drinks per week (P trend = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS: Current moderate alcohol consumption is not associated with risk of AF or with risk of death after diagnosis of AF, but former drinking identifies individuals at higher risk.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Atrial Fibrillation, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Prognosis, Risk Factors}, issn = {1097-6744}, doi = {10.1016/j.ahj.2006.10.039}, author = {Mukamal, Kenneth J and Psaty, Bruce M and Rautaharju, Pentti M and Furberg, Curt D and Kuller, Lewis H and Mittleman, Murray A and Gottdiener, John S and Siscovick, David S} } @article {967, title = {Association of carotid artery intima-media thickness, plaques, and C-reactive protein with future cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {116}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Jul 03}, pages = {32-8}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerosis, measured as carotid intima-media thickness or as characteristics of plaques, has been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. We investigated the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and CRP and their joint roles in CVD prediction.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 5888 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, an observational study of adults aged > or = 65 years, 5020 without baseline CVD were included in the analysis. They were followed up for as long as 12 years for CVD incidence and all-cause mortality after baseline ultrasound and CRP measurement. When CRP was elevated (> 3 mg/L) among those with detectable atherosclerosis on ultrasound, there was a 72\% (95\% CI, 1.46 to 2.01) increased risk for CVD death and a 52\% (95\% CI, 1.37 to 1.68) increased risk for all-cause mortality. Elevated CRP in the absence of atherosclerosis did not increase CVD or all-cause mortality risk. The proportion of excess risk attributable to the interaction of high CRP and atherosclerosis was 54\% for CVD death and 79\% for all-cause mortality. Addition of CRP or carotid atherosclerosis to conventional risk factors modestly increased in the ability to predict CVD, as measured by the c statistic.

CONCLUSIONS: In older adults, elevated CRP was associated with increased risk for CVD and all-cause mortality only in those with detectable atherosclerosis based on carotid ultrasound. Despite the significant associations of CRP and carotid atherosclerosis with CVD, these measures modestly improve the prediction of CVD outcomes after one accounts for the conventional risk factors.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Aged, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Carotid Artery Diseases, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Diabetes Mellitus, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Hyperlipidemias, Hypertension, Incidence, Inflammation, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Male, Mass Screening, Mortality, Myocardial Infarction, Obesity, Predictive Value of Tests, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, ROC Curve, Smoking, Stroke, Survival Analysis, Tunica Intima, Tunica Media, Ultrasonography, United States}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.645606}, author = {Cao, Jie J and Arnold, Alice M and Manolio, Teri A and Polak, Joseph F and Psaty, Bruce M and Hirsch, Calvin H and Kuller, Lewis H and Cushman, Mary} } @article {940, title = {Association of total insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), and IGFBP-3 levels with incident coronary events and ischemic stroke.}, journal = {J Clin Endocrinol Metab}, volume = {92}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Apr}, pages = {1319-25}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: Prior observational studies have demonstrated that the GH/IGF axis is associated with cardiovascular disease. However, this association has not been extensively studied among older adults.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the association between levels of total IGF-I and IGF binding proteins (IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3) and risk of incident coronary events and ischemic stroke.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A case-cohort analysis was conducted among adults 65 yr and older in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A total of 534 coronary events [316 nonfatal myocardial infarctions (MIs), 48 fatal MIs, and 170 fatal coronary heart disease events] and 370 ischemic strokes were identified on follow-up. Comparison subjects were 1122 randomly selected participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study.

RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 6.7 yr for coronary events, 5.6 yr for strokes, and 9.3 yr for comparison subjects. Hazard ratios (95\% confidence intervals) associated with baseline levels of total IGF-I and IGFBPs were estimated using multivariate adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. Neither IGF-I nor IGFBP-1 levels predicted risk of incident coronary events or stroke. IGFBP-3 had an inverse association with risk of coronary events [adjusted hazard ratio per sd=0.88 (0.78-1.00), P=0.05] but was not associated with stroke. Exploratory analyses suggested that low IGF-I and low IGFBP-3 levels were significantly associated with higher risk of nonfatal MI (P<0.05) but not with risk of fatal MI or fatal coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSION: Circulating levels of total IGF-I or IGFBP-1 were not associated with risk of total coronary events or ischemic stroke among older adults, whereas low IGFBP-3 level was associated with increased risk of incident coronary events.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Case-Control Studies, Cohort Studies, Coronary Disease, Female, Humans, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, Male, Multivariate Analysis, Risk Factors, Stroke}, issn = {0021-972X}, doi = {10.1210/jc.2006-1631}, author = {Kaplan, Robert C and McGinn, Aileen P and Pollak, Michael N and Kuller, Lewis H and Strickler, Howard D and Rohan, Tom E and Cappola, Anne R and Xue, XiaoNan and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {945, title = {Cerebral ventricular changes associated with transitions between normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia.}, journal = {Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord}, volume = {21}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Jan-Mar}, pages = {14-24}, abstract = {

Expansion of the cerebral ventricles may occur at an accelerated rate in subjects with dementia, but the time course of expansion during transitions between normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia is not well understood. Furthermore, the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on rate of ventricular expansion are unclear. We used a fully automated segmentation technique to measure change rate in lateral ventricle-to-brain ratio (VBR) on 145 longitudinal pairs of magnetic resonance images of subjects in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study from the Pittsburgh Center. A multivariate model analyzed VBR change rate, accounting for dementia statuses at both imaging times (normal, MCI, or dementia), age, sex, education, race, magnetic resonance-defined infarcts, Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale, baseline ventricular volume, and cardiovascular risk factors. VBR change was faster in subjects who were demented or transitioned from MCI to dementia, compared with subjects normal at both images and subjects who transitioned from normal to MCI or dementia. Patients with diabetes had faster VBR change. Ventricular expansion may accelerate late in the progression from normal cognitive function to dementia, and may be modulated by diabetes.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Case-Control Studies, Cerebral Ventricles, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors}, issn = {0893-0341}, doi = {10.1097/WAD.0b013e318032d2b1}, author = {Carmichael, Owen T and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Thompson, Paul M and Dutton, Rebecca A and Lu, Allen and Lee, Sharon E and Lee, Jessica Y and Aizenstein, Howard J and Meltzer, Carolyn C and Liu, Yanxi and Toga, Arthur W and Becker, James T} } @article {960, title = {Focal atrophy and cerebrovascular disease increase dementia risk among cognitively normal older adults.}, journal = {J Neuroimaging}, volume = {17}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Apr}, pages = {148-55}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the association of medial temporal lobe (MTL) atrophy and cerebrovascular disease (white matter hyperintensities [WMH], subclinical infarcts) with the risk of developing Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD) among cognitively normal older adults.

METHODS: Risk of developing AD was examined for 155 cognitively normal older adults (77.4 years, 60\% women, 81\% white). The MTL volumes and the presence of WMH and of subclinical infarcts were determined from brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the beginning of the study. Follow-up cognitive evaluations (average 4.3 years) identified those who developed AD.

RESULTS: The presence of either MTL atrophy or subclinical infarcts was independently and significantly associated with a greater risk to develop AD (OR [95\% CI]: 4.4 [1.5, 12.3] and 2.7 [1.0, 7.1], respectively). In addition, those participants with both MTL atrophy and at least one brain infarct had a 7-fold increase in the risk of developing AD (OR [95\% CI]: 7.0 [1.5, 33.1]), compared to those who had neither of these conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: In cognitively normal older adults, markers of neurodegeneration (as reflected by MTL atrophy) and of cerebrovascular disease (as reflected by infarcts on MRI) independently contribute to the risk to develop AD.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Analysis of Variance, Atrophy, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Cognition, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Risk Factors, Temporal Lobe, United States}, issn = {1051-2284}, doi = {10.1111/j.1552-6569.2007.00093.x}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Aizenstein, Howard J and Wu, Minjie and Newman, Anne B and Becker, James T and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {947, title = {Incidence of dementia in mild cognitive impairment in the cardiovascular health study cognition study.}, journal = {Arch Neurol}, volume = {64}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Mar}, pages = {416-20}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To examine the incidence of dementia in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study.

DESIGN: Prospective epidemiological study.

SETTING: The Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study of Pittsburgh, Pa, was conducted from 2002 through 2003 to determine the incidence of dementia in participants classified as having MCI in 1998 and 1999. Subjects There were 136 subjects with MCI. Mild cognitive impairment was subclassified as MCI amnestic type and MCI multiple cognitive deficits type (MCI-MCDT); subjects with MCI-MCDT were also grouped based on the presence of a memory impairment. Subjects with MCI were classified as possible when there were comorbidities that could explain the subjects{\textquoteright} cognitive deficits and as probable when there were none. Main Outcome Measure Dementia.

RESULTS: The incidence of all dementias in the subjects with MCI was 147 per 1000 person-years (mean follow-up overall, 4.3 years). Of the 136 subjects with MCI, 69 (51\%) in 1998 through 1999 progressed to dementia (57 [83\%] to Alzheimer disease [AD]), but 25 (18\%) returned to normal. Of the 10 subjects with probable MCI amnestic type, 7 (70\%) progressed to dementia (all of them to AD) and none returned to normal, whereas 7 (41\%) of the 17 subjects with possible MCI amnestic type became demented (6 [86\%] to AD) and 3 (18\%) returned to normal. Of the 40 subjects with probable MCI-MCDT, 21 (52\%) progressed to dementia (17 [81\%] to AD) and 2 (5\%) returned to normal. Of the 69 subjects with possible MCI-MCDT, 34 (49\%) progressed to dementia (28 [82\%] to AD) and 20 (29\%) returned to normal. Among the subjects with probable MCI-MCDT, 15 (54\%) of 28 with and 6 (50\%) of 12 without memory deficits progressed to dementia.

CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with MCI are at high risk for dementia. The probable MCI diagnosis identified individuals in the earliest stages of dementia, usually AD, whereas the possible MCI diagnosis identified a more heterogeneous group. However, this latter group had only a slightly lower rate of conversion to dementia than the group with probable MCI, suggesting that even with comorbid conditions, there is a high likelihood of the presence of a progressive dementing disorder.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular System, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Retrospective Studies}, issn = {0003-9942}, doi = {10.1001/archneur.64.3.416}, author = {Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Becker, James T and Dulberg, Corinne and Sweet, Robert A and Gach, H Michael and DeKosky, Steven T} } @article {936, title = {Inflammation biomarkers and near-term death in older men.}, journal = {Am J Epidemiol}, volume = {165}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Mar 15}, pages = {684-95}, abstract = {

Associations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen with death may weaken over time. Combining both markers may improve prediction of death in older adults. In 5,828 Cardiovascular Health Study participants (United States, 1989-2000), 383 deaths (183 cardiovascular disease (CVD)) in years 1-3 (early) and 914 deaths (396 CVD) in years 4-8 (late) occurred. For men, when comparing highest to lowest quartiles, hazard ratios for early death were 4.1 (95\% confidence interval (CI): 2.7, 6.3) for CRP and 4.1 (95\% CI: 2.7, 6.4) for fibrinogen in models adjusted for CVD risk. For early CVD death, hazard ratios were 4.3 (95\% CI: 2.2, 8.4) and 3.4 (95\% CI: 1.8, 6.3), respectively. When comparing men in the highest quartiles of both biomarkers with those in the lowest, hazard ratios were 9.6 (95\% CI: 4.3, 21.1) for early death and 13.5 (95\% CI: 3.2, 56.5) for early CVD death. Associations were weaker for late deaths. For women, CRP (hazard ratio = 2.3, 95\% CI: 1.4, 3.9), but not fibrinogen (hazard ratio = 1.3, 95\% CI: 0.8, 2.2), was associated with early death. Results were similar for CVD death. Neither was associated with late deaths. CRP and fibrinogen were more strongly associated with death in older men than women and more strongly associated with early than late death. Combining both markers may identify older men at greatest risk of near-term death.

}, keywords = {Age Distribution, Aged, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes Complications, Epidemiologic Studies, Female, Fibrinogen, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension, Inflammation, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Population Surveillance, Predictive Value of Tests, Prognosis, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, Smoking, Time Factors, United States}, issn = {0002-9262}, doi = {10.1093/aje/kwk057}, author = {Jenny, Nancy Swords and Yanez, N David and Psaty, Bruce M and Kuller, Lewis H and Hirsch, Calvin H and Tracy, Russell P} } @article {965, title = {Retinal microvascular signs, cognitive function, and dementia in older persons: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {38}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Jul}, pages = {2041-7}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral microvascular disease may be a risk factor for the development of dementia in elderly persons. We describe the association of retinal microvascular signs with cognitive function and dementia among older individuals.

METHODS: In the population-based Cardiovascular Health Study, 2211 persons aged 69 to 97 years at recruitment had retinal photography. Photographs were evaluated for retinopathy (eg, microaneurysms, retinal hemorrhages), focal arteriolar narrowing, arteriovenous nicking, and retinal arteriolar and venular caliber. Cognitive status was determined from the Digit-Symbol Substitution Test and Modified Mini-Mental State Examination. Participants were also further evaluated for the presence of dementia with detailed neuropsychological testing. Persons with a prior stroke or taking antipsychotic or antidepressant medications were excluded.

RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, race, field center, education level, internal carotid intima-media thickness, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and cigarette smoking status, persons with retinopathy had lower mean Digit-Symbol Substitution Test scores but not Modified Mini-Mental State Examination than those without retinopathy (39 versus 41, P=0.002). In hypertensive persons, retinopathy (multivariable-adjusted OR, 2.10; 95\% CI, 1.04 to 4.24) and focal arteriolar narrowing (OR, 3.02; 95\% CI, 1.51 to 6.02) were associated with dementia. These associations were not present in individuals without hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS: In older persons, our study shows a modest cross-sectional association between retinopathy signs with poorer cognitive function and, in persons with hypertension, with dementia. These data support a possible role of cerebral microvascular disease in the pathogenesis of impaired cognitive function and dementia in older hypertensive persons.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Microcirculation, Neuropsychological Tests, Retinal Vessels, Risk Factors}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.483586}, author = {Baker, Michelle L and Marino Larsen, Emily K and Kuller, Lewis H and Klein, Ronald and Klein, Barbara E K and Siscovick, David S and Bernick, Charles and Manolio, Teri A and Wong, Tien Yin} } @article {930, title = {Serum amyloid P and cardiovascular disease in older men and women: results from the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol}, volume = {27}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Feb}, pages = {352-8}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Serum amyloid P (SAP), a pentraxin like C-reactive protein (CRP), functions in innate immunity. However, associations of SAP with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined these associations in the Cardiovascular Health Study using a case-cohort design. Nonexclusive case groups were incident angina (n=523), myocardial infarction (MI; n=308), stroke (n=323), and CVD death (n=288). 786 participants had no events. SAP was correlated with CRP, CVD risk factors (obesity, blood pressure, lipids), common and internal carotid wall thickness, and ankle-brachial index (all P<0.02). In Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity, a standard deviation increase in SAP (9.8 mg/L) was associated with angina (hazard ratio; 95\% confidence interval 1.3; 1.2 to 1.5) and MI (1.3; 1.1 to 1.5), but not stroke (1.1; 0.9 to 1.3) or CVD death (1.1; 0.9 to 1.3). Adding CRP to the models had no significant effect on associations. Adjusting for CVD risk factors slightly attenuated SAP associations with CVD events; however, associations with angina and MI remained significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Although both are pentraxins, SAP and CRP may represent different facets of inflammation. The association of SAP with CVD in these older adults further supports the role of innate immunity in atherosclerosis.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Angina, Unstable, Atherosclerosis, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Case-Control Studies, Female, Humans, Hypertension, Immunity, Innate, Male, Myocardial Infarction, Obesity, Prevalence, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Serum Amyloid P-Component}, issn = {1524-4636}, doi = {10.1161/01.ATV.0000254150.97741.fe}, author = {Jenny, Nancy Swords and Arnold, Alice M and Kuller, Lewis H and Tracy, Russell P and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {889, title = {Ventricular volume and dementia progression in the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Neurobiol Aging}, volume = {28}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Mar}, pages = {389-97}, abstract = {

Elevated cerebral ventricular volume may be associated with dementia risk and progression. A fully-automated technique that agreed highly with radiological readings was used to estimate lateral ventricle volume on MR scans done at baseline in 1997-99 of 377 subjects in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) from the Pittsburgh Center. 327 subjects were normal or diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at baseline and were evaluated 4 years later. Baseline ventricular volume was analyzed in multivariate models with age, gender, education level, presence and incidence of cerebral infarcts, and dementia category (normal, MCI, or dementia) at baseline and follow-up as fixed effects. Ventricular volume at baseline was significantly higher among subjects normal at baseline and demented 4 years later. Age, gender, education level, and dementia progression were significant factors affecting ventricular volume. Ventricular volume was higher in dementia compared to MCI, higher in MCI compared to controls, and higher in Possible-Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s-disease (AD) dementia compared to Probable-AD. Larger ventricles in healthy subjects may indicate susceptibility to, or progression of, dementia-related pathology.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cognition Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Disease Progression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Lateral Ventricles, Linear Models, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Predictive Value of Tests, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, Time Factors}, issn = {1558-1497}, doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.01.006}, author = {Carmichael, Owen T and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Thompson, Paul M and Dutton, Rebecca A and Lu, Allen and Lee, Sharon E and Lee, Jessica Y and Aizenstein, Howard J and Meltzer, Carolyn Cidis and Liu, Yanxi and Toga, Arthur W and Becker, James T} } @article {907, title = {White matter grade and ventricular volume on brain MRI as markers of longevity in the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Neurobiol Aging}, volume = {28}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Sep}, pages = {1307-15}, abstract = {

High white matter grade (WMG) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a risk factor for dementia, stroke and disability. Higher ventricular size is a marker of brain "atrophy." In the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) (n=3245) mean age 75 years, 50\% black and 40\% men, we evaluated WM and ventricular grade (VG), total, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality and longevity before and after adjusting for numerous determinants of longevity over an approximate 10-12 years of follow-up. A low WMG and VG was a marker for low total, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality and for increased longevity over 10+ years of follow-up. We estimated that a 75-year-old with WMG below median would have about a 5-6 years greater longevity and for VG about 3 years, than above the median even after adjustment for numerous risk factors. Low WMG and VG on MRI is a powerful determinant of long-term survival among older individuals.

}, keywords = {African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Brain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cerebral Ventricles, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Status, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sex Factors}, issn = {1558-1497}, doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.06.010}, author = {Kuller, Lewis H and Arnold, Alice M and Longstreth, W T and Manolio, Teri A and O{\textquoteright}Leary, Daniel H and Burke, Gregory L and Fried, Linda P and Newman, Anne B} } @article {1017, title = {Abdominal aortic aneurysms, increasing infrarenal aortic diameter, and risk of total mortality and incident cardiovascular disease events: 10-year follow-up data from the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {117}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Feb 26}, pages = {1010-7}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Long-term data describing small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and increasing infrarenal aortic diameters and their relationship to future surgical repair, total mortality, and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, particularly among women, are sparse.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In 1992 to 1993, 4734 Cardiovascular Health Study participants > or = 65 years old had an abdominal aortic ultrasound evaluation. Of those screened, 416 had an AAA (infrarenal aortic diameter > or = 3.0 cm or an infrarenal/suprarenal ratio > or = 1.2). By 2002, there were 56 surgical AAA repairs and 10 AAA-related deaths. A single ultrasound screening demonstrated that aneurysm dilation > or = 3 cm identified 68\% of all AAA repairs over the next 10 years and 6 of the 10 AAA-related deaths in 4\% of the total population and that a > or = 2.5-cm dilation identified 91\% of all AAA repairs and 9 of the 10 deaths in 10\% of the total population. With adjusted Cox proportional hazard models, AAAs were associated with a higher risk of total mortality (hazard ratio 1.44, 95\% confidence interval 1.25 to 1.66) and incident CVD events (hazard ratio 1.52, 95\% confidence interval 1.25 to 1.85). Compared with diameters < 2.0 cm, infrarenal aortic diameters 2.0 to < 3.0 cm were associated with increased risk of incident CVD events in women and total mortality in men.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a 1-time screening of the abdominal aorta can acceptably identify individuals with a clinically significant AAA. Infrarenal aortic diameters > 2.0 cm are associated with a significantly increased risk of future CVD events and total mortality.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aorta, Abdominal, Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal, Cause of Death, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Intermittent Claudication, Kidney, Male, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, Ultrasonography}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.720219}, author = {Freiberg, Matthew S and Arnold, Alice M and Newman, Anne B and Edwards, Matthew S and Kraemer, Kevin L and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {1005, title = {Abnormal regional cerebral blood flow in cognitively normal elderly subjects with hypertension.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {39}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Feb}, pages = {349-54}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal cognitive-performing subjects with hypertension (HTN) using continuous arterial spin-labeled MRI. The most common explanation for the effect of blood pressure on cognition is that HTN increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease, and it may increase the risk for Alzheimer disease possibly through small vessel disease, ischemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation. However, few studies to date have examined the rCBF of cognitively normal subjects with HTN in population-based cohorts, and none have used continuous arterial spin-labeled MRI. This is a noninvasive technique that does not require either injections or ionizing radiation and can measure absolute rCBF rates over the entire brain.

METHODS: rCBF was measured at 1.5 T using continuous arterial spin-labeled MRI in 41 cognitively normal subjects who were participating in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study. A deformable atrophy-corrected registration method was used to warp the rCBF maps to the standard colin27 brain space. Image and cluster-based statistical analyses were performed between subject groups.

RESULTS: Cognitively normal subjects with HTN (n=19) had decreased rCBF in the putamen, globus pallidus, bilaterally, and in the left hippocampus compared with normotensives (n=22). In addition, decreased rCBF was observed in the right and left anterior cingulate gyrus with extension to the subcallosal region, left posterior cingulate gyrus and medial precuneus, left lateral inferior and superior frontal, and inferior parietal, left orbitofrontal, and left superior temporal cortices.

CONCLUSIONS: rCBF is affected in normal subjects with HTN, not only in the subcortical regions, but also in limbic and paralimbic structures. We hypothesize that the HTN creates a vulnerability state for the development of neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer disease.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cerebral Cortex, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Female, Globus Pallidus, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Hypertension, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Putamen, Spin Labels}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.495457}, author = {Dai, Weiying and Lopez, Oscar L and Carmichael, Owen T and Becker, James T and Kuller, Lewis H and Gach, H Michael} } @article {1038, title = {Adiponectin and risk of coronary heart disease in older men and women.}, journal = {J Clin Endocrinol Metab}, volume = {93}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Sep}, pages = {3357-64}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: Despite established insulin-sensitizing and antiatherogenic preclinical effects, epidemiological investigations of adiponectin have yielded conflicting findings, and its relationship with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the relationship between adiponectin and CHD in older adults.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a case-control study (n = 1386) nested within the population-based Cardiovascular Health Study from 1992--2001. Controls were frequency-matched to cases by age, sex, race, subclinical cardiovascular disease, and center.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incident CHD was defined as angina pectoris, percutaneous or surgical revascularization, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), or CHD death. A more restrictive CHD endpoint was limited to nonfatal MI and CHD death.

RESULTS: Adiponectin exhibited significant negative correlations with baseline adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, inflammatory markers, and leptin. After controlling for matching factors, adjustment for waist to hip ratio, hypertension, smoking, alcohol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine, and leptin revealed a modestly increased risk of incident CHD with adiponectin concentrations at the upper end [odds ratio = 1.37 (quintile 5 vs. 1-4), 95\% confidence interval 1.02-1.84]. This association was stronger when the outcome was limited to nonfatal MI and fatal CHD (odds ratio = 1.69, 95\% confidence interval 1.23-2.32). The findings were not influenced by additional adjustment for weight change, health status, or cystatin C, nor were they abolished by adjustment for potential mediators.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an association between adiponectin and increased risk of first-ever CHD in older adults. Further research is needed to elucidate the basis for the concurrent beneficial and detrimental aspects of this relationship, and under what circumstances one or the other may predominate.

}, keywords = {Adiponectin, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Weight, Case-Control Studies, Cohort Studies, Coronary Disease, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Odds Ratio, Risk Factors}, issn = {0021-972X}, doi = {10.1210/jc.2008-0640}, author = {Kizer, Jorge R and Barzilay, Joshua I and Kuller, Lewis H and Gottdiener, John S} } @article {1032, title = {Albuminuria and dementia in the elderly: a community study.}, journal = {Am J Kidney Dis}, volume = {52}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Aug}, pages = {216-26}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Dementia is associated with microvascular disease of the retina. In this study, we examine whether cognitive status (normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia) is associated with albuminuria, a microvascular disorder of the kidney.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING \& PARTICIPANTS: 2,316 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and testing for albuminuria.

PREDICTOR: Doubling of albuminuria.

OUTCOME: Dementia defined according to neuropsychological and clinical evaluation.

MEASUREMENTS: Multinomial logistic modeling was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95\% confidence intervals (CIs) of dementia and mild cognitive impairment with doubling of albuminuria compared with the odds with normal cognition.

RESULTS: 283 participants (12.2\%) had dementia, 344 (14.9\%) had mild cognitive impairment, and 1,689 (72.9\%) had normal cognition. Compared with participants with normal cognition, doubling of albuminuria was associated with increased odds of dementia (OR, 1.22; 95\% CI, 1.15 to 1.29). Adjustment for prevalent cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors, lipid levels, C-reactive protein level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and apolipoprotein E-4 genotype attenuated this association, but it remained statistically significant (OR, 1.12; 95\% CI, 1.03 to 1.22). Mild cognitive impairment was associated with albuminuria on unadjusted analysis, but not with adjustment for other factors.

LIMITATIONS: Results are cross-sectional; causality cannot be imputed.

CONCLUSIONS: The odds of dementia increased in the presence of albuminuria. These findings suggest a role of shared susceptibility for microvascular disease in the brain and kidney in older adults.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Albuminuria, Brain, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Incidence, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Odds Ratio, Population Surveillance, Prognosis, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors}, issn = {1523-6838}, doi = {10.1053/j.ajkd.2007.12.044}, author = {Barzilay, Joshua I and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Luchsinger, Jose and Yasar, Sevil and Bernick, Charles and Jenny, Nancy S and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {994, title = {Alcohol consumption and lower extremity arterial disease among older adults: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Am J Epidemiol}, volume = {167}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Jan 01}, pages = {34-41}, abstract = {

Few studies of the relation of alcohol intake to lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) have included clinical events and objective measurements repeated longitudinally. As part of the Cardiovascular Health Study, a study of older adults from four US communities, 5,635 participants reported their use of beer, wine, and spirits yearly. Incident LEAD was identified by hospitalization surveillance. Technicians measured ankle-brachial index 6 years apart in 2,298 participants. A total of 172 cases of LEAD were documented during a mean of 7.5 years of follow-up between 1989 and 1999. Compared with abstention, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were 1.10 (95\% confidence interval (CI): 0.71, 1.71) for <1 alcoholic drink per week, 0.56 (95\% CI: 0.33, 0.95) for 1-13 drinks per week, and 1.02 (95\% CI: 0.53, 1.97) for > or =14 drinks per week (p for quadratic trend = 0.04). These relations were consistent within strata of sex, age, and apolipoprotein E genotype, and neither lipids nor inflammatory markers appeared to be important intermediates. Change in ankle-brachial index showed a similar relation (p for quadratic trend = 0.01). Alcohol consumption of 1-13 drinks per week in older adults may be associated with lower risk of LEAD, but heavier drinking is not associated with lower risk.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Surveys, Humans, Intermittent Claudication, Male, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors, United States}, issn = {1476-6256}, doi = {10.1093/aje/kwm274}, author = {Mukamal, Kenneth J and Kennedy, Margaret and Cushman, Mary and Kuller, Lewis H and Newman, Anne B and Polak, Joseph and Criqui, Michael H and Siscovick, David S} } @article {1049, title = {Association between lower digit symbol substitution test score and slower gait and greater risk of mortality and of developing incident disability in well-functioning older adults.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {56}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Sep}, pages = {1618-25}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether, in well-functioning older adults, a lower score on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and slower gait are associated with greater risk of mortality and of developing incident disability independent of other risk factors, including brain structural abnormalities (white matter hyperintensities, brain infarcts, ventricular enlargement) and whether the combination of varying levels of DSST score and gait speed are associated with a greater risk of mortality and disability than low DSST or slow gait alone.

DESIGN: Observational cohort study.

SETTING: Community.

PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand one hundred fifty-six (43\% men, 29\% black, mean age 70.4) participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), free from stroke and physical disability and with a modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) score of 80 or higher.

MEASUREMENTS: Total mortality and incident disability (self-report of any difficulty performing one or more of the six activities of daily living) ascertained over a median follow-up time of 8.4 years.

RESULTS: By the end of follow-up, 704 participants had died and 1,096 had incident disability. In Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, race, education, cardiovascular disease, and brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities, lower DSST score and slower gait remained significantly associated with greater risk of mortality and of incident disability. Mortality rates were higher in those who had both low DSST score (<27 points) and slow gait (speed <1.0 m/s) than in those who had only low DSST score, only slow gait, or neither (rates per 1,000 person years (p-y): 61.2, 42.8, 20.8, and 16.3, respectively). A similar risk gradient was observed for incident disability (82.0, 57.9, 47.9, and 36.0/1,000 p-y, respectively).

CONCLUSION: In well-functioning older adults, low DSST score and slow gait, alone or in combination, could be risk factors for mortality and for developing disability, independent of other risk factors, including measures of brain integrity.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Atrophy, Brain, Brain Diseases, Cause of Death, Cohort Studies, Disability Evaluation, Discrimination Learning, Female, Gait, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Mobility Limitation, Neuropsychological Tests, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Psychometrics, Psychomotor Performance, Risk Factors}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01856.x}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Newman, Anne B and Katz, Ronit and Hirsch, Calvin H and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {1006, title = {Coronary artery calcium, carotid artery wall thickness, and cardiovascular disease outcomes in adults 70 to 99 years old.}, journal = {Am J Cardiol}, volume = {101}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Jan 15}, pages = {186-92}, abstract = {

Few population studies have evaluated the associations of both coronary artery calcium (CAC) and carotid ultrasound with cardiovascular events, especially in adults >70 years of age. At the Pittsburgh Field Center of the Cardiovascular Health Study, 559 men and women, mean age 80.2 (SD 4.1) years had CAC score assessed by electron beam computerized tomographic scan and common and internal carotid artery intimal medial wall thickness (CCA-IMT and ICA-IMT) by carotid ultrasound between 1998 and 2000 and were followed for total and incident cardiovascular disease events through June 2003. Crude rates and hazard ratios for total and incident events were examined with and without adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. After 5 years, there were 127 cardiovascular disease events, 48 myocardial infarctions or cardiovascular disease deaths, and 28 strokes or stroke deaths. Total and incident cardiovascular disease event rates were higher in each quartile of CAC and CCA-IMT, but not of ICA-IMT. For total cardiovascular disease, the adjusted hazard ratio for the fourth versus first quartile of CAC was 2.1 (95\% confidence interval 1.2 to 3.9) and for CCA-IMT was 2.3 (95\% confidence interval 1.3 to 4.1). The CCA-IMT was more strongly related to stroke risk than was CAC, although CAC was also an important predictor of stroke. No significant gender differences were found, although relative risks appeared to be stronger in women, especially for stroke. In conclusion, in adults >70 years of age, CAC and CCA-IMT had similar hazard ratios for total cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. The CCA-IMT was more strongly related to stroke than CAC, but CAC was also a predictor of stroke.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Carotid Artery Diseases, Carotid Artery, Common, Carotid Artery, Internal, Coronary Artery Disease, Coronary Vessels, Female, Humans, Male, ROC Curve, Severity of Illness Index, Survival Analysis, Ultrasonography, United States}, issn = {0002-9149}, doi = {10.1016/j.amjcard.2007.07.075}, author = {Newman, Anne B and Naydeck, Barbara L and Ives, Diane G and Boudreau, Robert M and Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim and O{\textquoteright}Leary, Daniel H and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {1009, title = {Enhanced risk for Alzheimer disease in persons with type 2 diabetes and APOE epsilon4: the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study.}, journal = {Arch Neurol}, volume = {65}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Jan}, pages = {89-93}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Diabetes and the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele (APOE epsilon4) increase the risk for Alzheimer disease (AD). We hypothesize that APOE epsilon4 may modify the risk for AD in individuals with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the joint effect of type 2 diabetes and APOE epsilon4 on the risk of AD, AD with vascular dementia (mixed AD), and vascular dementia without AD.

DESIGN: The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) Cognition Study (1992-2000) is a prospective study designed to identify all existing and new cases of dementia among study participants. Diagnoses were made according to international criteria for dementia and subtypes. There were 2547 dementia-free participants in the CHS Cognition Study cohort with complete information on APOE epsilon4 and type 2 diabetes status; among these, 411 new cases of dementia developed. Risk of dementia was estimated with a Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age and other demographic and cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS: Compared with those who had neither type 2 diabetes nor APOE epsilon4, those with both factors had a significantly higher risk of AD (hazard ratio, 4.58; 95\% confidence interval, 2.18-9.65) and mixed AD (hazard ratio, 3.89; 95\% confidence interval, 1.46-10.40).

CONCLUSION: These data suggest that having both diabetes and APOE epsilon4 increases the risk of dementia, especially for AD and mixed AD.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Age Factors, Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoprotein E4, Cognition, Cohort Studies, Confidence Intervals, Dementia, Vascular, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Genotype, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sex Factors}, issn = {0003-9942}, doi = {10.1001/archneurol.2007.29}, author = {Irie, Fumiko and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Peila, Rita and Newman, Anne B and Launer, Lenore J} } @article {1063, title = {Agreement between nosologist and cardiovascular health study review of deaths: implications of coding differences.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {57}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Jan}, pages = {133-9}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To compare nosologist coding of underlying cause of death according to the death certificate with adjudicated cause of death for subjects aged 65 and older in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS).

DESIGN: Observational.

SETTING: Four communities: Forsyth County, North Carolina (Wake Forest University); Sacramento County, California (University of California at Davis); Washington County, Maryland (Johns Hopkins University); and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh).

PARTICIPANTS: Men and women aged 65 and older participating in CHS, a longitudinal study of coronary heart disease and stroke, who died through June 2004.

MEASUREMENTS: The CHS centrally adjudicated underlying cause of death for 3,194 fatal events from June 1989 to June 2004 using medical records, death certificates, proxy interviews, and autopsies, and results were compared with underlying cause of death assigned by a trained nosologist based on death certificate only.

RESULTS: Comparison of 3,194 CHS versus nosologist underlying cause of death revealed moderate agreement except for cancer (kappa=0.91, 95\% confidence interval (CI)=0.89-0.93). kappas varied according to category (coronary heart disease, kappa=0.61, 95\% CI=0.58-0.64; stroke, kappa=0.59, 95\% CI=0.54-0.64; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kappa=0.58, 95\% CI=0.51-0.65; dementia, kappa=0.40, 95\% CI=0.34-0.45; and pneumonia, kappa=0.35, 95\% CI=0.29-0.42). Differences between CHS and nosologist coding of dementia were found especially in older ages in the sex and race categories. CHS attributed 340 (10.6\%) deaths due to dementia, whereas nosologist coding attributed only 113 (3.5\%) to dementia as the underlying cause.

CONCLUSION: Studies that use only death certificates to determine cause of death may result in misclassification and potential bias. Changing trends in cause-specific mortality in older individuals may be a function of classification process rather than incidence and case fatality.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Coronary Disease, Death Certificates, Female, Forms and Records Control, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Stroke}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.02056.x}, author = {Ives, Diane G and Samuel, Paulraj and Psaty, Bruce M and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {1072, title = {Associations of pentraxin 3 with cardiovascular disease and all-cause death: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol}, volume = {29}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Apr}, pages = {594-9}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: We examined associations of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a vascular inflammation marker, with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause death.

METHODS AND RESULTS: 1583 Cardiovascular Health Study participants free of prevalent CVD were included. Nonexclusive case groups were angina (n=476), myocardial infarction (MI; n=237), stroke (n=310), CVD death (n=282), and all-cause death (n=772). 535 participants had no events. PTX3 levels were higher in those with subclinical CVD (1.90+/-1.89 ng/mL) than those without (1.71+/-1.88 ng/mL; P=0.001). Using Cox regression adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity, a standard deviation increase in PTX3 (1.89 ng/mL) was associated with CVD death (hazard ratio 1.11; 95\% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.21) and all-cause death (1.08; 1.02 to 1.15). PTX3 was not associated with angina (1.09; 0.98 to 1.20), MI (0.96; 0.81 to 1.12), or stroke (1.06; 0.95 to 1.18). Adding C-reactive protein (CRP) or CVD risk factors to the models had no significant effects on associations.

CONCLUSIONS: In these older adults, PTX3 was associated with CVD and all-cause death independent of CRP and CVD risk factors. PTX3 likely reflects different aspects of inflammation than CRP and may provide insight into vascular health in aging and chronic diseases of aging that lead to death.

}, keywords = {Aged, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Case-Control Studies, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Inflammation Mediators, Linear Models, Male, Predictive Value of Tests, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Serum Amyloid P-Component, Time Factors, United States, Up-Regulation}, issn = {1524-4636}, doi = {10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.178947}, author = {Jenny, Nancy Swords and Arnold, Alice M and Kuller, Lewis H and Tracy, Russell P and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {1100, title = {Early age-related macular degeneration, cognitive function, and dementia: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Arch Ophthalmol}, volume = {127}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 May}, pages = {667-73}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To describe the association of cognitive function and dementia with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in older individuals.

METHODS: This population-based study included 2,088 persons aged 69 to 97 years who participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The AMD was assessed from retinal photographs based on a modified Wisconsin AMD grading system. Cognitive function was assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination. Participants were also evaluated for dementia using detailed neuropsychological testing.

RESULTS: After controlling for age, sex, race, and study center, persons with low DSST scores (lowest quartile of scores, < or =30) were more likely to have early AMD (odds ratio, 1.38; 95\% confidence interval, 1.03-1.85) than were persons with higher DSST scores. In analyses further controlling for education, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol level, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, and apolipoprotein E genotype, this association was stronger (odds ratio, 2.00; 95\% confidence interval, 1.29-3.10). There was no association of low Modified Mini-Mental State Examination scores, dementia, or Alzheimer disease with early AMD.

CONCLUSIONS: In this older population, cognitive impairment may share common age-related pathogenesis and risk factors with early AMD.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Female, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Macular Degeneration, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Odds Ratio, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, United States}, issn = {1538-3601}, doi = {10.1001/archophthalmol.2009.30}, author = {Baker, Michelle L and Wang, Jie Jin and Rogers, Sophie and Klein, Ronald and Kuller, Lewis H and Larsen, Emily K and Wong, Tien Yin} } @article {1086, title = {Imaging cerebral blood flow in the cognitively normal aging brain with arterial spin labeling: implications for imaging of neurodegenerative disease.}, journal = {J Neuroimaging}, volume = {19}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Oct}, pages = {344-52}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a safe, noninvasive imaging method for evaluating cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The purpose of this article is to present ASL imaging features of 38 elderly cognitively normals (CN) with their rCBF values and an averaged profile of targeted anatomic regions rCBF values.

METHODS: Thirty-eight CN underwent MR imaging especially ASL with voxel morphometric techniques fusing the MR anatomical and ASL images to a standard reference brain (colin27). The ASL images were fused to echo planar images, which were then coregistered to high-resolution anatomical SPGR images. rCBF was calculated per region of interest using a modified continuous arterial spin labeling (CASL) convolutional method. Anatomical regions were selected and identified by the Talairach atlas in SPM2.

RESULTS: We identified areas of decreased and increased perfusion (compared to the averaged rCBF of all 38 CN) corresponding to decreased and increased quantified rCBF. The most common sites for decreased perfusion were precuneus (53\%), superior temporal (48\%), and orbitofrontal (37\%), and for increased perfusion the caudate (39\%), posterior cingulate (34\%), anterior cingulate (32\%), and amygdala (32\%).

CONCLUSION: There are regional variations in rCBF both increased and decreased with the posterior cingulate and precuneus cortex showing the highest averaged values and signal intensity (bright spots). These variations represent the normal profile of a CN elderly brain, with higher perfusion in areas associated with cognition, memory, and behavior. It is necessary to understand these normal variations in order to determine if there are perfusion changes in ASL detected in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease.

}, keywords = {Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Brain, Brain Mapping, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted, Spin Labels}, issn = {1552-6569}, doi = {10.1111/j.1552-6569.2008.00277.x}, author = {Lee, Charles and Lopez, Oscar L and Becker, James T and Raji, Cyrus and Dai, Weiying and Kuller, Lewis H and Gach, H Michael} } @article {1088, title = {Insulin-like growth factors and leukocyte telomere length: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, volume = {64}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Nov}, pages = {1103-6}, abstract = {

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis may affect immune cell replicative potential and telomere dynamics. Among 551 adults 65 years and older, leukocyte telomere length (LTL), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins 1 and 3 (IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3) were measured. Multivariate linear regression was used to model the association of LTL with IGF-1 and IGFBPs, while controlling for confounding and increasing precision by adjusting for covariates. We observed a significant association between higher IGF-1 and longer LTL after adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking status, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and serum lipids. The results suggested an increase of .08 kb in LTL for each standard deviation increase of IGF-1 (p = .04). IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 were not significantly associated with LTL. High IGF-1 may be an independent predictor of longer LTL, consistent with prior evidence suggesting a role for IGF-1 in mechanisms relating to telomere maintenance.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, Leukocytes, Linear Models, Male, Sex Characteristics, Telomere}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glp036}, author = {Kaplan, Robert C and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Pollak, Michael N and Gardner, Jeffrey P and Jenny, Nancy S and McGinn, Aileen P and Kuller, Lewis H and Strickler, Howard D and Kimura, Masayuki and Psaty, Bruce M and Aviv, Abraham} } @article {1085, title = {Midlife and late-life obesity and the risk of dementia: cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Arch Neurol}, volume = {66}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Mar}, pages = {336-42}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: While high adiposity in middle age appears to be related to greater dementia risk, studies exploring this association in the elderly are conflicting.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between midlife and late-life obesity and risk of dementia.

DESIGN: Prospective study with mean follow-up of 5.4 years (1992-1994 through 1999).

SETTING: Community-dwelling sample in 4 US sites recruited from Medicare eligibility files.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2798 adults without dementia (mean age, 74.7 years; 59.1\% women) participating in the Cardiovascular Health Study who underwent magnetic resonance imaging were measured for height and weight at baseline at age 65 years or older (late life), and self-reported weight at age 50 years (midlife). Body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) was calculated at both times.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dementia, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia classified by a multidisciplinary committee using standardized criteria.

RESULTS: Classification resulted in 480 persons with incident dementia, 245 with Alzheimer disease (no vascular dementia), and 213 with vascular dementia (with or without Alzheimer disease). In evaluations of midlife obesity, an increased risk of dementia was found for obese (BMI >30) vs normal-weight (BMI 20-25) persons, adjusted for demographics (hazard ratio [HR], 1.39; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.87) and for cardiovascular risk factors (1.36; 0.94-1.95). The risk estimates were reversed in assessments of late-life BMI. Underweight persons (BMI <20) had an increased risk of dementia (1.62; 1.02-2.64), whereas being overweight (BMI >25-30) was not associated (0.92; 0.72-1.18) and being obese reduced the risk of dementia (0.63; 0.44-0.91) compared with those with normal BMI.

CONCLUSION: These results help explain the "obesity paradox" as differences in dementia risk across time are consistent with physical changes in the trajectory toward disability.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Anthropometry, Body Mass Index, Dementia, Vascular, Evaluation Studies as Topic, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Prospective Studies, Risk, Survival Analysis}, issn = {1538-3687}, doi = {10.1001/archneurol.2008.582}, author = {Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Diehr, Paula and O{\textquoteright}Meara, Ellen S and Longstreth, W T and Luchsinger, Jos{\'e} A} } @article {1071, title = {Mild cognitive impairment and alzheimer disease: patterns of altered cerebral blood flow at MR imaging.}, journal = {Radiology}, volume = {250}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Mar}, pages = {856-66}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To examine regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD) by using continuous arterial spin-labeling (CASL) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the local institutional review board and was compliant with HIPAA regulations. Informed consent was obtained. rCBF was measured in 38 control subjects, 29 MCI patients, and 37 AD patients who were participating in a longitudinal epidemiologic study. Multisection CASL MR imaging with alternating single and double adiabatic inversion pulses and ramp-sampled echo-planar imaging were performed to acquire 19 contiguous axial sections. Voxel-level rCBF was compared among groups by using an analysis of variance design; clusters of voxels with significant group differences were identified. Multiple regression models controlled for age, sex, and presence of hypertension and related the mean rCBF in those clusters to the presence of MCI and AD.

RESULTS: MCI and AD patients had decreased rCBF in the posterior cingulate gyrus (P = .01) with extension to the medial precuneus compared with that in control subjects. MCI patients had increased rCBF in the left hippocampus (P < .001), right amygdala (P = .007), and rostral head of the right caudate nucleus and ventral putamen and globus pallidus (P = .003) compared with that in control subjects. AD patients had decreased rCBF relative to that in control subjects and MCI patients in the left inferior parietal (P = .005), left lateral frontal (P < .001), left superior temporal (P = .001), and left orbitofrontal (P = .003) cortices. AD patients had increased rCBF in the right anterior cingulate gyrus (P = .02) compared with that in control subjects.

CONCLUSION: The transition from normal cognition to AD is associated with dynamic pathologic processes in the brain, and this is reflected by both decreases and increases in rCBF. Increases in rCBF suggest a cellular and vascular compensatory process associated with incipient AD.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/full/2503080751/DC1.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male}, issn = {1527-1315}, doi = {10.1148/radiol.2503080751}, author = {Dai, Weiying and Lopez, Oscar L and Carmichael, Owen T and Becker, James T and Kuller, Lewis H and Gach, H Michael} } @article {1124, title = {Total and cause-specific mortality in the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, volume = {64}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Dec}, pages = {1251-61}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Few cohort studies have adequate numbers of carefully reviewed deaths to allow an analysis of unique and shared risk factors for cause-specific mortality. Shared risk factors could be targeted for prevention of premature death and the study of longevity.

METHODS: A total of 5,888 community-dwelling persons aged 65 years or older living in four communities in the United States participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study cohort. Participants were initially recruited from 1989 to 1990; an additional 687 black participants were recruited in 1992-1993. The average length of follow-up was 16 years. Total and cause-specific mortality, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, dementia, pulmonary disease, infection, and other cause, were examined as outcomes. Variables previously associated with total mortality were examined for each cause of death using Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS: Multiple risk factors were related to total mortality. When examining specific causes, many factors were related to cardiovascular death, whereas fewer were related to other causes. For most causes, risk factors were specific for that cause. For example, apolipoprotein E epsilon4 was strongly associated for dementia death and forced vital capacity with pulmonary death. Age, male sex, markers of inflammation, and cognitive function were related to multiple causes of death.

CONCLUSIONS: In these older adults, associations of risk factors with a given cause of death were related to specific deficits in that same organ system. Inflammation may represent a common pathway to all causes of death.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cause of Death, Chronic Disease, Cohort Studies, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Surveys, Humans, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Male, Probability, Proportional Hazards Models, Retrospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Factors, Survival Analysis, United States}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glp127}, author = {Newman, Anne B and Sachs, Michael C and Arnold, Alice M and Fried, Linda P and Kronmal, Richard and Cushman, Mary and Psaty, Bruce M and Harris, Tamara B and Robbins, John A and Burke, Gregory L and Kuller, Lewis H and Lumley, Thomas} } @article {1120, title = {Brain structure and obesity.}, journal = {Hum Brain Mapp}, volume = {31}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Mar}, pages = {353-64}, abstract = {

Obesity is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular health problems including diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. These cardiovascular afflictions increase risk for cognitive decline and dementia, but it is unknown whether these factors, specifically obesity and Type II diabetes, are associated with specific patterns of brain atrophy. We used tensor-based morphometry (TBM) to examine gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volume differences in 94 elderly subjects who remained cognitively normal for at least 5 years after their scan. Bivariate analyses with corrections for multiple comparisons strongly linked body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) with atrophy in frontal, temporal, and subcortical brain regions. A multiple regression model, also correcting for multiple comparisons, revealed that BMI was still negatively correlated with brain atrophy (FDR <5\%), while DM2 and FPI were no longer associated with any volume differences. In an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) model controlling for age, gender, and race, obese subjects with a high BMI (BMI > 30) showed atrophy in the frontal lobes, anterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, and thalamus compared with individuals with a normal BMI (18.5-25). Overweight subjects (BMI: 25-30) had atrophy in the basal ganglia and corona radiata of the WM. Overall brain volume did not differ between overweight and obese persons. Higher BMI was associated with lower brain volumes in overweight and obese elderly subjects. Obesity is therefore associated with detectable brain volume deficits in cognitively normal elderly subjects.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Analysis of Variance, Body Mass Index, Brain, Continental Population Groups, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Fasting, Female, Humans, Insulin, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated, Obesity, Organ Size, Regression Analysis, Sex Factors}, issn = {1097-0193}, doi = {10.1002/hbm.20870}, author = {Raji, Cyrus A and Ho, April J and Parikshak, Neelroop N and Becker, James T and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Hua, Xue and Leow, Alex D and Toga, Arthur W and Thompson, Paul M} } @article {1147, title = {CRP gene variation and risk of community-acquired pneumonia.}, journal = {Respirology}, volume = {15}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Jan}, pages = {160-4}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: CRP has several potentially antibacterial effects, and variation in the CRP gene is known to influence CRP levels. Whether this variation influences risk of infection, and hence whether CRP has anti-infective activity in humans, is uncertain.

METHODS: We evaluated a series of haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms among 5374 individuals in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a cohort of older adults from four communities, who were followed for community-acquired pneumonia for 12-13 years. Secondarily, we evaluated whether these polymorphisms varied among men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who self-reported pneumonia on biennial questionnaires.

RESULTS: There were 581 (507 white and 74 black) Cardiovascular Health Study participants with incident hospitalizations for pneumonia. No single nucleotide polymorphism or haplotypes were associated with risk among white Cardiovascular Health Study participants. Among black participants, the haplotype tagged by A790T was associated with lower risk of incident pneumonia (hazard ratio 0.5; 95\% confidence interval: 0.3-0.9) and with higher CRP levels. In Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a separate haplotype was associated with less frequent self-reported pneumonia but not with circulating CRP levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Some genetic variants in CRP may be associated with risk of pneumonia, but haplotypes associated with risk are variably associated with baseline CRP levels. If CRP is a relevant component of innate immunity in humans, the inducibility or tissue-specificity of expression may be at least as important as chronic circulating levels.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Mass Index, C-Reactive Protein, Cohort Studies, Community-Acquired Infections, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Haplotypes, Humans, Male, Pneumonia, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Smoking}, issn = {1440-1843}, doi = {10.1111/j.1440-1843.2009.01661.x}, author = {Mukamal, Kenneth J and Pai, Jennifer K and O{\textquoteright}Meara, Ellen S and Tracy, Russell P and Psaty, Bruce M and Kuller, Lewis H and Newman, Anne B and Yende, Sachin and Curhan, Gary C and Siscovick, David S and Rimm, Eric B} } @article {1207, title = {Diabetes and coronary heart disease as risk factors for mortality in older adults.}, journal = {Am J Med}, volume = {123}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Jun}, pages = {556.e1-9}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes has been described as a coronary heart disease (CHD) "risk equivalent." We tested whether cardiovascular and all-cause mortality rates were similar between participants with prevalent CHD vs diabetes in an older adult population in whom both glucose disorders and preexisting atherosclerosis are common.

METHODS: The Cardiovascular Health Study is a longitudinal study of men and women (n=5784) aged > or =65 years at baseline who were followed from baseline (1989/1992-1993) through 2005 for mortality. Diabetes was defined by fasting plasma glucose > or =7.0 mmol/L or use of diabetes control medications. Prevalent CHD was determined by confirmed history of myocardial infarction, angina, or coronary revascularization.

RESULTS: Following multivariable adjustment for other cardiovascular disease risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis, CHD mortality risk was similar between participants with CHD alone vs diabetes alone (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95\% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.30). The proportion of mortality attributable to prevalent diabetes (population-attributable risk percent=8.4\%) and prevalent CHD (6.7\%) was similar in women, but the proportion of mortality attributable to CHD (16.5\%) as compared with diabetes (6.4\%) was markedly higher in men. Patterns were similar for cardiovascular disease mortality. By contrast, the adjusted relative hazard of total mortality was lower among participants with CHD alone (HR 0.85, 95\% CI, 0.75-0.96) as compared with those who had diabetes alone.

CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults, diabetes alone confers a risk for cardiovascular mortality similar to that from established clinical CHD. The public health burden of both diabetes and CHD is substantial, particularly among women.

}, keywords = {Aged, Coronary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, Survival Rate, Time Factors, United States}, issn = {1555-7162}, doi = {10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.11.023}, author = {Carnethon, Mercedes R and Biggs, Mary L and Barzilay, Joshua and Kuller, Lewis H and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Mukamal, Kenneth and Smith, Nicholas L and Siscovick, David} } @article {1208, title = {Obesity is linked with lower brain volume in 700 AD and MCI patients.}, journal = {Neurobiol Aging}, volume = {31}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Aug}, pages = {1326-39}, abstract = {

Obesity is associated with lower brain volumes in cognitively normal elderly subjects, but no study has yet investigated the effects of obesity on brain structure in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD). To determine if higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with brain volume deficits in cognitively impaired elderly subjects, we analyzed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 700 MCI or AD patients from 2 different cohorts: the Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study (CHS-CS). Tensor-based morphometry (TBM) was used to create 3-dimensional maps of regional tissue excess or deficits in subjects with MCI (ADNI, n = 399; CHS-CS, n = 77) and AD (ADNI, n = 188; CHS, n = 36). In both AD and MCI groups, higher body mass index was associated with brain volume deficits in frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes; the atrophic pattern was consistent in both ADNI and CHS populations. Cardiovascular risk factors, especially obesity, should be considered as influencing brain structure in those already afflicted by cognitive impairment and dementia.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Atrophy, Body Mass Index, Brain, Cognition Disorders, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Obesity, Organ Size, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors}, issn = {1558-1497}, doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.04.006}, author = {Ho, April J and Raji, Cyrus A and Becker, James T and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Hua, Xue and Lee, Suh and Hibar, Derrek and Dinov, Ivo D and Stein, Jason L and Jack, Clifford R and Weiner, Michael W and Toga, Arthur W and Thompson, Paul M} } @article {1157, title = {Secondhand smoke, vascular disease, and dementia incidence: findings from the cardiovascular health cognition study.}, journal = {Am J Epidemiol}, volume = {171}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Feb 01}, pages = {292-302}, abstract = {

Recent studies have found that smoking is associated with an increased risk of dementia, but the effects of secondhand smoke (SHS) on dementia risk are not known to have previously been studied. The authors used Cox proportional hazards marginal structural models to examine the association between self-reported lifetime household SHS exposure and risk of incident dementia over 6 years among 970 US participants in the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study (performed from 1991 to 1999) who were never smokers and were free of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD), dementia, and mild cognitive impairment at baseline. In addition, because prior studies have found that SHS is associated with increased risk of CVD and that CVD is associated with increased risk of dementia, the authors tested for interactions between SHS and measures of clinical and subclinical CVD on dementia risk. Moderate (16-25 years) and high (>25 years) SHS exposure levels were not independently associated with dementia risk; however, subjects with >25 years of SHS exposure and >25\% carotid artery stenosis had a 3-fold increase (hazard ratio = 3.00, 95\% confidence interval: 1.03, 9.72) in dementia risk compared with subjects with no/low (0-15 years) SHS exposure and < or =25\% carotid artery stenosis. High lifetime SHS exposure may increase the risk of dementia in elderly with undiagnosed CVD.

}, keywords = {Aged, Dementia, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Risk Factors, Tobacco Smoke Pollution, Vascular Diseases}, issn = {1476-6256}, doi = {10.1093/aje/kwp376}, author = {Barnes, Deborah E and Haight, Thaddeus J and Mehta, Kala M and Carlson, Michelle C and Kuller, Lewis H and Tager, Ira B} } @article {1225, title = {The effects of physical activity, education, and body mass index on the aging brain.}, journal = {Hum Brain Mapp}, volume = {32}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Sep}, pages = {1371-82}, abstract = {

Normal human aging is accompanied by progressive brain tissue loss and cognitive decline; however, several factors are thought to influence brain aging. We applied tensor-based morphometry to high-resolution brain MRI scans to determine whether educational level or physical activity was associated with brain tissue volumes in the elderly, particularly in regions susceptible to age-related atrophy. We mapped the 3D profile of brain volume differences in 226 healthy elderly subjects (130F/96M; 77.9 {\textpm} 3.6 SD years) from the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study. Statistical maps revealed the 3D profile of brain regions whose volumes were associated with educational level and physical activity (based on leisure-time energy expenditure). After controlling for age, sex, and physical activity, higher educational levels were associated with ~2-3\% greater tissue volumes, on average, in the temporal lobe gray matter. After controlling for age, sex, and education, greater physical activity was associated with ~2-2.5\% greater average tissue volumes in the white matter of the corona radiata extending into the parietal-occipital junction. Body mass index (BMI) was highly correlated with both education and physical activity, so we examined BMI as a contributing factor by including physical activity, education, and BMI in the same model; only BMI effects remained significant. This is one of the largest MRI studies of factors influencing structural brain aging, and BMI may be a key factor explaining the observed relationship between education, physical activity, and brain structure. Independent contributions to brain structure could not be teased apart as all these factors were highly correlated with one another.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Analysis of Variance, Body Mass Index, Brain, Brain Mapping, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Motor Activity, Neuropsychological Tests, Statistics as Topic}, issn = {1097-0193}, doi = {10.1002/hbm.21113}, author = {Ho, April J and Raji, Cyrus A and Becker, James T and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Hua, Xue and Dinov, Ivo D and Stein, Jason L and Rosano, Caterina and Toga, Arthur W and Thompson, Paul M} } @article {1276, title = {High blood pressure accelerates gait slowing in well-functioning older adults over 18-years of follow-up.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {59}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Mar}, pages = {390-7}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the association between hypertension and decline in gait speed is significant in well-functioning older adults and whether other health-related factors, such as brain, kidney, and heart function, can explain it.

DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING: Cardiovascular Health Study.

PARTICIPANTS: Of 2,733 potential participants with a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, measures of mobility and systolic blood pressure (BP), no self-reported disability in 1992 to 1994 (baseline), and with at least 1 follow-up gait speed measurement through 1997 to 1999, 643 (aged 73.6, 57\% female, 15\% black) who had received a second MRI in 1997 to 1999 and an additional gait speed measure in 2005 to 2006 were included.

MEASUREMENTS: Mixed models with random slopes and intercepts were adjusted for age, race, and sex. Main explanatory factors included white matter hyperintensity progression, baseline cystatin-C, and left cardiac ventricular mass. Incidence of stroke and dementia, BP trajectories, and intake of antihypertensive medications during follow-up were tested as other potential explanatory factors.

RESULTS: Higher systolic BP was associated with faster rate of gait speed decline in this selected group of 643 participants, and results were similar in the parent cohort (N = 2,733). Participants with high BP (n = 293) had a significantly faster rate of gait speed decline than those with baseline BP less than 140/90 mmHg and no history of hypertension (n = 350). Rates were similar for those with history of hypertension who were uncontrolled (n = 110) or controlled (n = 87) at baseline and for those who were newly diagnosed (n = 96) at baseline. Adjustment for explanatory factors or for other covariates (education, prevalent cardiovascular disease, physical activity, vision, mood, cognition, muscle strength, body mass index, osteoporosis) did not change the results.

CONCLUSION: High BP accelerates gait slowing in well-functioning older adults over a long period of time, even for those who control their BP or develop hypertension later in life. Health-related measurements did not explain these associations. Future studies to investigate the mechanisms linking hypertension to slowing gait in older adults are warranted.

}, keywords = {Aged, Antihypertensive Agents, Comorbidity, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Gait, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Hypertension, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Risk Factors, Statistics, Nonparametric}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03282.x}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Longstreth, William T and Boudreau, Robert and Taylor, Christopher A and Du, Yan and Kuller, Lewis H and Newman, Anne B} } @article {1254, title = {Measures of adiposity and future risk of ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease in older men and women.}, journal = {Am J Epidemiol}, volume = {173}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Jan 01}, pages = {10-25}, abstract = {

The relation between measures of general and central adiposity and individual cardiovascular endpoints remains understudied in older adults. This study investigated the association of measures of body size and composition with incident ischemic stroke or coronary heart disease (1989-2007) in 3,754 community-dwelling US adults aged 65-100 years. Standardized anthropometry and bioelectric impedance measurements were obtained at baseline. Body mass index at age 50 years (BMI50) was calculated on the basis of recalled weight. Although only waist/hip ratio was significantly associated with ischemic stroke in quintile analysis in women, dichotomized body mass index (BMI) (>= 30 kg/m{\texttwosuperior}) was the only significant predictor in men. For coronary heart disease, there were significant positive adjusted associations for all adiposity measures, without interaction by sex. This was true for both quintiles and conventional cutpoints for obesity, although BMI-defined overweight (25-29.9 kg/m{\texttwosuperior} was significant at midlife but not at baseline. Strengths of association for extreme quintiles (quintile 5 vs. quintile 1) were broadly comparable, but the highest effect estimates were for waist/hip ratio (hazard ratio = 1.56, 95\% confidence interval: 1.25, 1.94) and BMI50 (hazard ratio = 1.71, 95\% confidence interval: 1.37, 2.14), both of which remained significant after adjustment for mediators, BMI, or each other. Whether these differences translate to better risk prediction will require meta-analytical approaches, as will determination of prognostic cutpoints.

}, keywords = {Adiposity, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Brain Ischemia, Coronary Disease, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Prevalence, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, United States}, issn = {1476-6256}, doi = {10.1093/aje/kwq311}, author = {Kizer, Jorge R and Biggs, Mary L and Ix, Joachim H and Mukamal, Kenneth J and Zieman, Susan J and de Boer, Ian H and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Barzilay, Joshua I and Strotmeyer, Elsa S and Luchsinger, Jos{\'e} A and Elkind, Mitchell S V and Longstreth, W T and Kuller, Lewis H and Siscovick, David S} } @article {1310, title = {Progression of magnetic resonance imaging-defined brain vascular disease predicts vascular events in elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {42}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Oct}, pages = {2970-2}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To determine whether progression of MRI-defined vascular disease predicts subsequent vascular events in the elderly.

METHODS: The Cardiovascular Health Study, a longitudinal cohort study of vascular disease in the elderly, allows us to address this question because its participants had 2 MRI scans≈5 years apart and have been followed for ≈9 years since the follow-up scan for incident vascular events.

RESULTS: Both MRI-defined incident infarcts and worsened white matter grade were significantly associated with heart failure, stroke, and death, but not transient ischemic attacks, angina, or myocardial infarction. Strongest associations occurred when both incident infarcts and worsened white matter grade were present for heart failure (hazard ratio, 1.79; 95\% confidence interval, 1.18-2.73), stroke (hazard ratio, 2.58; 95\% confidence interval, 1.53-4.36), death (hazard ratio, 1.69; 95\% confidence interval, 1.28-2.24), and cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 1.97; 95\% confidence interval, 1.24-3.14).

CONCLUSIONS: Progression of MRI-defined vascular disease identifies elderly people at increased risk for subsequent heart failure, stroke, and death. Whether aggressive risk factor management would reduce risk is unknown.

}, keywords = {Aged, Brain, Disease Progression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Heart Failure, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, Predictive Value of Tests, Prognosis, Stroke}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.622977}, author = {Longstreth, W T and Arnold, Alice M and Kuller, Lewis H and Bernick, Charles and Lefkowitz, David S and Beauchamp, Norman J and Manolio, Teri A} } @article {1300, title = {Subclinical vascular disease burden and risk for death and cardiovascular events in older community dwellers.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, volume = {66}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Sep}, pages = {986-93}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Individual measures and previous composite measures of subclinical vascular disease defined high risk for cardiovascular events, but did not detect low and modest risk. A different approach might better describe the spectrum from low to high risk. Methods and Results. In the Cardiovascular Health Study, 3,252 participants without history of clinical cardiovascular disease (M {\textpm} SD 74.3 years {\textpm} 5.1, 63\% women, 17\% African Americans) had noninvasive vascular assessments in 1992-1993. We assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2 (no, mild, or severe abnormalities) to ankle-arm index, electrocardiogram, and common carotid intima-media thickness, based on clinical cutoffs. A summary index (range 0-6, absent to severe disease) summed individual scores. Abdominal aortic ultrasound and brain magnetic resonance imaging were collected in a subsample. Mortality and incident cardiovascular events were identified through June 2008. Event and death rates increased across index grades. Comparing grades 1 to 5+ with absent disease, and adjusting for demographics, hazard ratios for cardiovascular events within 8 years ranged from 1.1 (95\% confidence interval 0.8-1.6) to 4.7 (3.4-6.9) and, for mortality, from 1.5 (1.0-2.3) to 5.0 (3.3-7.7) (p for trend across grades <.001 for both outcomes). Adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors did not substantially change the associations. The index improved mortality risk classification over demographics and risk factors in participants who did not die during the follow-up. Including in the index the aortic ultrasound and the brain magnetic resonance imaging further improved risk classification.

CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with minimal subclinical vascular disease had low cardiovascular events risk and mortality. This approach might more fully account for vascular burden.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cost of Illness, Female, Humans, Male, Risk, Vascular Diseases}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glr069}, author = {Inzitari, Marco and Arnold, Alice M and Patel, Kushang V and Mercer, Laina D and Karlamangla, Arun and Ding, Jingzhong and Psaty, Bruce M and Williamson, Jeff D and Kuller, Lewis H and Newman, Anne B} } @article {1405, title = {Effect of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease risk genes on trajectories of cognitive function in the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Psychiatry}, volume = {169}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Sep}, pages = {954-62}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: The trajectory of cognitive decline in patients with late-onset Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease varies widely. Genetic variations in CLU, PICALM, and CR1 are associated with Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, but it is unknown whether they exert their effects by altering cognitive trajectory in elderly individuals at risk for the disease.

METHOD: The authors developed a Bayesian model to fit cognitive trajectories in a cohort of elderly subjects and test for genetic effects. They first validated the model{\textquoteright}s ability to detect the previously established effects of APOE ε4 alleles on age at cognitive decline and of psychosis on the rate of cognitive decline in 802 subjects from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study who did not have dementia at study entry and developed incident dementia during follow-up. The authors then evaluated the effects of CLU, PICALM, and CR1 on age and rate of decline in 1,831 subjects who did not have dementia at study entry and then did or did not develop incident dementia by study{\textquoteright}s end.

RESULTS: The model generated robust fits to the observed cognitive trajectory data, and validation analysis supported the model{\textquoteright}s utility. CLU and CR1 were associated with more rapid cognitive decline. PICALM was associated with an earlier age at midpoint of cognitive decline. Associations remained after accounting for the effects of APOE and demographic factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of cognitive trajectories provides a powerful approach to dissecting genetic effects on the processes leading to cognitive deterioration and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease.

}, keywords = {Age of Onset, Aged, Alleles, Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoprotein E4, Bayes Theorem, Clusterin, Cohort Studies, Dementia, Disease Progression, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Monomeric Clathrin Assembly Proteins, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Receptors, Complement 3b, Risk Factors}, issn = {1535-7228}, doi = {10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11121815}, author = {Sweet, Robert A and Seltman, Howard and Emanuel, James E and Lopez, Oscar L and Becker, James T and Bis, Joshua C and Weamer, Elise A and Demichele-Sweet, Mary Ann A and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {5860, title = {Hemoglobin A1c and arterial and ventricular stiffness in older adults.}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, pages = {e47941}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Arterial and ventricular stiffening are characteristics of diabetes and aging which confer significant morbidity and mortality; advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) are implicated in this stiffening pathophysiology. We examined the association between HbA(1c), an AGE, with arterial and ventricular stiffness measures in older individuals without diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN \& METHODS: Baseline HbA(1c) was measured in 830 participants free of diabetes defined by fasting glucose or medication use in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort study of adults aged >= 65 years. We performed cross-sectional analyses using baseline exam data including echocardiography, ankle and brachial blood pressure measurement, and carotid ultrasonography. We examined the adjusted associations between HbA(1c) and multiple arterial and ventricular stiffness measures by linear regression models and compared these results to the association of fasting glucose (FG) with like measures.

RESULTS: HbA(1c) was correlated with fasting and 2-hour postload glucose levels (r = 0.21; p<0.001 for both) and positively associated with greater body-mass index and black race. In adjusted models, HbA(1c) was not associated with any measure of arterial or ventricular stiffness, including pulse pressure (PP), carotid intima-media thickness, ankle-brachial index, end-arterial elastance, or left ventricular mass (LVM). FG levels were positively associated with systolic, diastolic and PP and LVM.

CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of older adults without diabetes, HbA(1c) was not associated with arterial or ventricular stiffness measures, whereas FG levels were. The role of AGE in arterial and ventricular stiffness in older adults may be better assessed using alternate AGE markers.

}, keywords = {Adult, African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, Ankle Brachial Index, Arteries, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, Cross-Sectional Studies, Fasting, Female, Genetic Association Studies, Glycated Hemoglobin A, Glycation End Products, Advanced, Heart Ventricles, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Ultrasonography, Vascular Stiffness}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0047941}, author = {Zieman, Susan J and Kamineni, Aruna and Ix, Joachim H and Barzilay, Joshua and Djouss{\'e}, Luc and Kizer, Jorge R and Biggs, Mary L and de Boer, Ian H and Chonchol, Michel and Gottdiener, John S and Selvin, Elizabeth and Newman, Anne B and Kuller, Lewis H and Siscovick, David S and Mukamal, Kenneth J} } @article {1557, title = {Incidence of mild cognitive impairment in the Pittsburgh Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study.}, journal = {Neurology}, volume = {79}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Oct 09}, pages = {1599-606}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and patterns of progression from incident MCI to dementia in 285 cognitively normal subjects (mean age, 78.9 years) in the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study from 1998-1999 to 2010-2011.

RESULTS: Two hundred (70\%) of the participants progressed to MCI; the age-adjusted incidence of MCI was 111.09 (95\% confidence interval, 88.13-142.95) per 1,000 person-years. A total of 107 (53.5\%) of the incident MCI subjects progressed to dementia. The mean time from MCI to dementia was 2.8 {\textpm} 1.8 years. Forty (20\%) of the incident MCI cases had an "unstable" course: 19 (9.5\%) converted to MCI and later returned to normal; 10 (5\%) converted to MCI, to normal, and later back to MCI; 7 (3.5\%) converted to MCI, to normal, to MCI, and later to dementia; and 4 (2\%) converted to MCI, to normal, and later to dementia. There was an increased mortality rate among the cognitively normal group (110.10 per 1,000 person-years) compared to those with incident MCI who converted to dementia (41.32 per 1,000 person-years).

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the subjects aged >80 years developed an MCI syndrome, and half of them progressed to dementia. Once the MCI syndrome was present, the symptoms of dementia appeared within 2 to 3 years. Progression from normal to MCI or from normal to MCI to dementia is not always linear; subjects who developed MCI and later returned to normal can subsequently progress to dementia. Competing mortality and morbidity influence the study of incident MCI and dementia in population cohorts.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognitive Dysfunction, Dementia, Disease Progression, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Incidence, Male, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index}, issn = {1526-632X}, doi = {10.1212/WNL.0b013e31826e25f0}, author = {Lopez, Oscar L and Becker, James T and Chang, Yue-Fang and Sweet, Robert A and DeKosky, Steven T and Gach, Michael H and Carmichael, Owen T and McDade, Eric and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {1367, title = {Markers of cholesterol metabolism in the brain show stronger associations with cerebrovascular disease than Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease.}, journal = {J Alzheimers Dis}, volume = {30}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, pages = {53-61}, abstract = {

Cholesterol metabolism is believed to play a role in the development of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD). Oxysterol metabolites of cholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC, a brain-derived oxysterol) and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC, a peripherally derived oxysterol) cross the blood brain barrier and have been associated with AD. We investigated whether oxysterols were associated with markers of cerebrovascular disease prior to the onset of cognitive impairment. Oxysterols were quantified in 105 participants (average age: 80 {\textpm} 4 years) from the Pittsburgh Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study who remained cognitively normal at blood draw in 2002, had MRI in 1992 and 1998, and annual cognitive assessment for incident AD and mild cognitive impairment made by consensus conference between 1998 and 2010. Higher plasma levels of 24-OHC were associated with age, gender, the presence of high grade white matter hyperintensities, and brain infarcts on prior MRI. Participants with higher plasma 24-OHC and a greater ratio of 24-OHC/27-OHC were also more likely to develop incident cognitive impairment over 8 years of follow-up. Higher levels of 24-OHC suggest increased cholesterol metabolism occurring in the brains of participants with cerebrovascular disease prior to the onset of cognitive impairment. Measurement of oxysterols may provide information about cholesterol metabolism and brain disease over the cognitive impairment process.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoprotein E4, Brain, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Cognition Disorders, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Hydroxycholesterols, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Retrospective Studies}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-2012-111460}, author = {Hughes, Timothy M and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Becker, James T and Evans, Rhobert W and Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim and Rosano, Caterina} } @article {1333, title = {White matter lesions and brain gray matter volume in cognitively normal elders.}, journal = {Neurobiol Aging}, volume = {33}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Apr}, pages = {834.e7-16}, abstract = {

Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) reflect small vessel disease, are common in elderly individuals, and are associated with cognitive impairment. We sought to determine the relationships between WMLs, age, gray matter (GM) volume, and cognition in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). From the Cardiovascular Health Study we selected 740 cognitively normal controls with a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain and a detailed diagnostic evaluation. WML severity was determined using a standardized visual rating system. GM volumes were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry implemented in the Statistical Parametric Mapping software. WMLs were inversely correlated with GM volume, with the greatest volume loss in the frontal cortex. Age-related atrophy was observed in the hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex. Regression analyses revealed links among age, APOE*4 allele, hypertension, WMLs, GM volume, and digit symbol substitution test scores. Both advancing age and hypertension predict higher WML load, which is itself associated with GM atrophy. Longitudinal data are needed to confirm the temporal sequence of events leading to a decline in cognitive function.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Apolipoprotein E4, Brain, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Leukoaraiosis, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Memory Disorders, Mental Status Schedule, Neuropsychological Tests, Regression Analysis, Retrospective Studies}, issn = {1558-1497}, doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.08.010}, author = {Raji, Cyrus A and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Carmichael, Owen T and Longstreth, William T and Gach, H Michael and Boardman, John and Bernick, Charles B and Thompson, Paul M and Becker, James T} } @article {6065, title = {Effects of smoking on the genetic risk of obesity: the population architecture using genomics and epidemiology study.}, journal = {BMC Med Genet}, volume = {14}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Jan 11}, pages = {6}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Although smoking behavior is known to affect body mass index (BMI), the potential for smoking to influence genetic associations with BMI is largely unexplored.

METHODS: As part of the {\textquoteright}Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE){\textquoteright} Consortium, we investigated interaction between genetic risk factors associated with BMI and smoking for 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously identified in genome-wide association studies. We included 6 studies with a total of 56,466 subjects (16,750 African Americans (AA) and 39,716 European Americans (EA)). We assessed effect modification by testing an interaction term for each SNP and smoking (current vs. former/never) in the linear regression and by stratified analyses.

RESULTS: We did not observe strong evidence for interactions and only observed two interactions with p-values <0.1: for rs6548238/TMEM18, the risk allele (C) was associated with BMI only among AA females who were former/never smokers (β = 0.018, p = 0.002), vs. current smokers (β = 0.001, p = 0.95, p(interaction) = 0.10). For rs9939609/FTO, the A allele was more strongly associated with BMI among current smoker EA females (β = 0.017, p = 3.5 x 10(-5)), vs. former/never smokers (β = 0.006, p = 0.05, p(interaction) = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS: These analyses provide limited evidence that smoking status may modify genetic effects of previously identified genetic risk factors for BMI. Larger studies are needed to follow up our results.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00000611.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, African Americans, Aged, Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO, Body Mass Index, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Male, Membrane Proteins, Middle Aged, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Proteins, Risk Factors, Smoking, Young Adult}, issn = {1471-2350}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2350-14-6}, author = {Fesinmeyer, Megan D and North, Kari E and Lim, Unhee and B{\r u}zkov{\'a}, Petra and Crawford, Dana C and Haessler, Jeffrey and Gross, Myron D and Fowke, Jay H and Goodloe, Robert and Love, Shelley-Ann and Graff, Misa and Carlson, Christopher S and Kuller, Lewis H and Matise, Tara C and Hong, Ching-Ping and Henderson, Brian E and Allen, Melissa and Rohde, Rebecca R and Mayo, Ping and Schnetz-Boutaud, Nathalie and Monroe, Kristine R and Ritchie, Marylyn D and Prentice, Ross L and Kolonel, Lawrence N and Manson, JoAnn E and Pankow, James and Hindorff, Lucia A and Franceschini, Nora and Wilkens, Lynne R and Haiman, Christopher A and Le Marchand, Lo{\"\i}c and Peters, Ulrike} } @article {6287, title = {Genome-wide association of body fat distribution in African ancestry populations suggests new loci.}, journal = {PLoS Genet}, volume = {9}, year = {2013}, month = {2013}, pages = {e1003681}, abstract = {

Central obesity, measured by waist circumference (WC) or waist-hip ratio (WHR), is a marker of body fat distribution. Although obesity disproportionately affects minority populations, few studies have conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) of fat distribution among those of predominantly African ancestry (AA). We performed GWAS of WC and WHR, adjusted and unadjusted for BMI, in up to 33,591 and 27,350 AA individuals, respectively. We identified loci associated with fat distribution in AA individuals using meta-analyses of GWA results for WC and WHR (stage 1). Overall, 25 SNPs with single genomic control (GC)-corrected p-values<5.0 {\texttimes} 10(-6) were followed-up (stage 2) in AA with WC and with WHR. Additionally, we interrogated genomic regions of previously identified European ancestry (EA) WHR loci among AA. In joint analysis of association results including both Stage 1 and 2 cohorts, 2 SNPs demonstrated association, rs2075064 at LHX2, p = 2.24{\texttimes}10(-8) for WC-adjusted-for-BMI, and rs6931262 at RREB1, p = 2.48{\texttimes}10(-8) for WHR-adjusted-for-BMI. However, neither signal was genome-wide significant after double GC-correction (LHX2: p = 6.5 {\texttimes} 10(-8); RREB1: p = 5.7 {\texttimes} 10(-8)). Six of fourteen previously reported loci for waist in EA populations were significant (p<0.05 divided by the number of independent SNPs within the region) in AA studied here (TBX15-WARS2, GRB14, ADAMTS9, LY86, RSPO3, ITPR2-SSPN). Further, we observed associations with metabolic traits: rs13389219 at GRB14 associated with HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting insulin, and rs13060013 at ADAMTS9 with HDL-cholesterol and fasting insulin. Finally, we observed nominal evidence for sexual dimorphism, with stronger results in AA women at the GRB14 locus (p for interaction = 0.02). In conclusion, we identified two suggestive loci associated with fat distribution in AA populations in addition to confirming 6 loci previously identified in populations of EA. These findings reinforce the concept that there are fat distribution loci that are independent of generalized adiposity.

}, keywords = {Adiposity, African Continental Ancestry Group, Body Fat Distribution, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Genetic Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Male, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Waist-Hip Ratio}, issn = {1553-7404}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1003681}, author = {Liu, Ching-Ti and Monda, Keri L and Taylor, Kira C and Lange, Leslie and Demerath, Ellen W and Palmas, Walter and Wojczynski, Mary K and Ellis, Jaclyn C and Vitolins, Mara Z and Liu, Simin and Papanicolaou, George J and Irvin, Marguerite R and Xue, Luting and Griffin, Paula J and Nalls, Michael A and Adeyemo, Adebowale and Liu, Jiankang and Li, Guo and Ruiz-Narvaez, Edward A and Chen, Wei-Min and Chen, Fang and Henderson, Brian E and Millikan, Robert C and Ambrosone, Christine B and Strom, Sara S and Guo, Xiuqing and Andrews, Jeanette S and Sun, Yan V and Mosley, Thomas H and Yanek, Lisa R and Shriner, Daniel and Haritunians, Talin and Rotter, Jerome I and Speliotes, Elizabeth K and Smith, Megan and Rosenberg, Lynn and Mychaleckyj, Josyf and Nayak, Uma and Spruill, Ida and Garvey, W Timothy and Pettaway, Curtis and Nyante, Sarah and Bandera, Elisa V and Britton, Angela F and Zonderman, Alan B and Rasmussen-Torvik, Laura J and Chen, Yii-Der Ida and Ding, Jingzhong and Lohman, Kurt and Kritchevsky, Stephen B and Zhao, Wei and Peyser, Patricia A and Kardia, Sharon L R and Kabagambe, Edmond and Broeckel, Ulrich and Chen, Guanjie and Zhou, Jie and Wassertheil-Smoller, Sylvia and Neuhouser, Marian L and Rampersaud, Evadnie and Psaty, Bruce and Kooperberg, Charles and Manson, JoAnn E and Kuller, Lewis H and Ochs-Balcom, Heather M and Johnson, Karen C and Sucheston, Lara and Ordovas, Jose M and Palmer, Julie R and Haiman, Christopher A and McKnight, Barbara and Howard, Barbara V and Becker, Diane M and Bielak, Lawrence F and Liu, Yongmei and Allison, Matthew A and Grant, Struan F A and Burke, Gregory L and Patel, Sanjay R and Schreiner, Pamela J and Borecki, Ingrid B and Evans, Michele K and Taylor, Herman and Sale, Mich{\`e}le M and Howard, Virginia and Carlson, Christopher S and Rotimi, Charles N and Cushman, Mary and Harris, Tamara B and Reiner, Alexander P and Cupples, L Adrienne and North, Kari E and Fox, Caroline S} } @article {6630, title = {The influence of obesity-related single nucleotide polymorphisms on BMI across the life course: the PAGE study.}, journal = {Diabetes}, volume = {62}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 May}, pages = {1763-7}, abstract = {

Evidence is limited as to whether heritable risk of obesity varies throughout adulthood. Among >34,000 European Americans, aged 18-100 years, from multiple U.S. studies in the Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE) Consortium, we examined evidence for heterogeneity in the associations of five established obesity risk variants (near FTO, GNPDA2, MTCH2, TMEM18, and NEGR1) with BMI across four distinct epochs of adulthood: 1) young adulthood (ages 18-25 years), adulthood (ages 26-49 years), middle-age adulthood (ages 50-69 years), and older adulthood (ages >=70 years); or 2) by menopausal status in women and stratification by age 50 years in men. Summary-effect estimates from each meta-analysis were compared for heterogeneity across the life epochs. We found heterogeneity in the association of the FTO (rs8050136) variant with BMI across the four adulthood epochs (P = 0.0006), with larger effects in young adults relative to older adults (β [SE] = 1.17 [0.45] vs. 0.09 [0.09] kg/m{\texttwosuperior}, respectively, per A allele) and smaller intermediate effects. We found no evidence for heterogeneity in the association of GNPDA2, MTCH2, TMEM18, and NEGR1 with BMI across adulthood. Genetic predisposition to obesity may have greater effects on body weight in young compared with older adulthood for FTO, suggesting changes by age, generation, or secular trends. Future research should compare and contrast our findings with results using longitudinal data.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Body Mass Index, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Genetic Association Studies, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Proteins, United States, Young Adult}, issn = {1939-327X}, doi = {10.2337/db12-0863}, author = {Graff, Mariaelisa and Gordon-Larsen, Penny and Lim, Unhee and Fowke, Jay H and Love, Shelly-Ann and Fesinmeyer, Megan and Wilkens, Lynne R and Vertilus, Shawyntee and Ritchie, Marilyn D and Prentice, Ross L and Pankow, Jim and Monroe, Kristine and Manson, JoAnn E and Le Marchand, Lo{\"\i}c and Kuller, Lewis H and Kolonel, Laurence N and Hong, Ching P and Henderson, Brian E and Haessler, Jeff and Gross, Myron D and Goodloe, Robert and Franceschini, Nora and Carlson, Christopher S and Buyske, Steven and B{\r u}zkov{\'a}, Petra and Hindorff, Lucia A and Matise, Tara C and Crawford, Dana C and Haiman, Christopher A and Peters, Ulrike and North, Kari E} } @article {6107, title = {Long-term survival in adults 65 years and older with white matter hyperintensity: association with performance on the digit symbol substitution test.}, journal = {Psychosom Med}, volume = {75}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Sep}, pages = {624-31}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) confers increased mortality risk in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about differences in survival times among adults 65 years and older who have WMH and live in the community. To characterize the factors that may reduce mortality risk in the presence of WMH, measures of race, sex, apolipoprotein E4, neuroimaging, and cardiometabolic, physiological, and psychosocial characteristics were examined, with a particular focus on information processing as measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).

METHODS: Cox proportional models were used to estimate mortality risks in a cohort of 3513 adults (74.8 years, 58\% women, 84\% white) with WMH (0-9 points), DSST (0-90 points), risk factor assessment in 1992 to 1994, and data on mortality and incident stroke in 2009 (median follow-up [range] = 14.2 [0.5-18.1] years).

RESULTS: WMH predicted a 48\% greater mortality risk (age-adjusted hazard ratio [HR; 95\% confidence interval {CI}] for WMH >3 points = 1.48 [1.35-1.62]). This association was attenuated after adjustment for DSST (HR [CI] = 1.38 [1.27-1.51]) or lacunar infarcts (HR [CI] = 1.37 [1.25,1.50]) but not after adjustment for other factors. The interaction between DSST and WMH was significant (p = .011). In fully adjusted models stratified by WMH of 3 or higher, participants with DSST greater than or equal to median had a 34\% lower mortality risk among those with WMH of 3 or higher (n = 532/1217) and a 28\% lower mortality risk among those with WMH lower than 3 (n = 1364/2296), compared with participants with DSST less than median (HR [95\% CI] = 0.66 [0.55-0.81] and 0.72 [0.62-0.83], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: WMH is associated with increased long-term mortality risk in community-dwelling adults 65 years and older. The increased risk is attenuated for those with higher DSST. Assessment of cognitive function with DSST may improve risk stratification of individuals with WMH.

}, keywords = {Aged, Apolipoprotein E4, Biomarkers, Brain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Epidemiologic Methods, Female, Humans, Life Style, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuroimaging, Neuropsychological Tests, Reaction Time, Sex Factors, Stroke, Survivors}, issn = {1534-7796}, doi = {10.1097/PSY.0b013e31829c1df2}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Chang, Yue-Fang and Kuller, Lewis H and Guralnik, Jack M and Studenski, Stephanie A and Aizenstein, Howard J and Gianaros, Peter J and Lopez, Oscar L and Longstreth, William T and Newman, Anne B} } @article {6559, title = {Glycated hemoglobin measurement and prediction of cardiovascular disease.}, journal = {JAMA}, volume = {311}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Mar 26}, pages = {1225-33}, abstract = {

IMPORTANCE: The value of measuring levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for the prediction of first cardiovascular events is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adding information on HbA1c values to conventional cardiovascular risk factors is associated with improvement in prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Analysis of individual-participant data available from 73 prospective studies involving 294,998 participants without a known history of diabetes mellitus or CVD at the baseline assessment.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Measures of risk discrimination for CVD outcomes (eg, C-index) and reclassification (eg, net reclassification improvement) of participants across predicted 10-year risk categories of low (<5\%), intermediate (5\% to <7.5\%), and high (>= 7.5\%) risk.

RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 9.9 (interquartile range, 7.6-13.2) years, 20,840 incident fatal and nonfatal CVD outcomes (13,237 coronary heart disease and 7603 stroke outcomes) were recorded. In analyses adjusted for several conventional cardiovascular risk factors, there was an approximately J-shaped association between HbA1c values and CVD risk. The association between HbA1c values and CVD risk changed only slightly after adjustment for total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations or estimated glomerular filtration rate, but this association attenuated somewhat after adjustment for concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and C-reactive protein. The C-index for a CVD risk prediction model containing conventional cardiovascular risk factors alone was 0.7434 (95\% CI, 0.7350 to 0.7517). The addition of information on HbA1c was associated with a C-index change of 0.0018 (0.0003 to 0.0033) and a net reclassification improvement of 0.42 (-0.63 to 1.48) for the categories of predicted 10-year CVD risk. The improvement provided by HbA1c assessment in prediction of CVD risk was equal to or better than estimated improvements for measurement of fasting, random, or postload plasma glucose levels.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In a study of individuals without known CVD or diabetes, additional assessment of HbA1c values in the context of CVD risk assessment provided little incremental benefit for prediction of CVD risk.

}, keywords = {Aged, C-Reactive Protein, Cholesterol, HDL, Coronary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Female, Glycated Hemoglobin A, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Stroke}, issn = {1538-3598}, doi = {10.1001/jama.2014.1873}, author = {Di Angelantonio, Emanuele and Gao, Pei and Khan, Hassan and Butterworth, Adam S and Wormser, David and Kaptoge, Stephen and Kondapally Seshasai, Sreenivasa Rao and Thompson, Alex and Sarwar, Nadeem and Willeit, Peter and Ridker, Paul M and Barr, Elizabeth L M and Khaw, Kay-Tee and Psaty, Bruce M and Brenner, Hermann and Balkau, Beverley and Dekker, Jacqueline M and Lawlor, Debbie A and Daimon, Makoto and Willeit, Johann and Nj{\o}lstad, Inger and Nissinen, Aulikki and Brunner, Eric J and Kuller, Lewis H and Price, Jackie F and Sundstr{\"o}m, Johan and Knuiman, Matthew W and Feskens, Edith J M and Verschuren, W M M and Wald, Nicholas and Bakker, Stephan J L and Whincup, Peter H and Ford, Ian and Goldbourt, Uri and G{\'o}mez-de-la-C{\'a}mara, Agust{\'\i}n and Gallacher, John and Simons, Leon A and Rosengren, Annika and Sutherland, Susan E and Bj{\"o}rkelund, Cecilia and Blazer, Dan G and Wassertheil-Smoller, Sylvia and Onat, Altan and Mar{\'\i}n Iba{\~n}ez, Alejandro and Casiglia, Edoardo and Jukema, J Wouter and Simpson, Lara M and Giampaoli, Simona and Nordestgaard, B{\o}rge G and Selmer, Randi and Wennberg, Patrik and Kauhanen, Jussi and Salonen, Jukka T and Dankner, Rachel and Barrett-Connor, Elizabeth and Kavousi, Maryam and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Evans, Denis and Wallace, Robert B and Cushman, Mary and D{\textquoteright}Agostino, Ralph B and Umans, Jason G and Kiyohara, Yutaka and Nakagawa, Hidaeki and Sato, Shinichi and Gillum, Richard F and Folsom, Aaron R and van der Schouw, Yvonne T and Moons, Karel G and Griffin, Simon J and Sattar, Naveed and Wareham, Nicholas J and Selvin, Elizabeth and Thompson, Simon G and Danesh, John} } @article {6592, title = {Regular fish consumption and age-related brain gray matter loss.}, journal = {Am J Prev Med}, volume = {47}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Oct}, pages = {444-51}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Brain health may be affected by modifiable lifestyle factors; consuming fish and antioxidative omega-3 fatty acids may reduce brain structural abnormality risk.

PURPOSE: To determine whether dietary fish consumption is related to brain structural integrity among cognitively normal elders.

METHODS: Data were analyzed from 260 cognitively normal individuals from the Cardiovascular Health Study with information on fish consumption from the National Cancer Institute Food Frequency Questionnaire and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The relationship between fish consumption data collected in 1989-1990 and brain structural MRI obtained in 1998-1999 was assessed using voxel-based morphometry in multiple regression analyses in 2012. Covariates were age, gender, race, education, white matter lesions, MRI-identified infarcts, waist-hip ratio, and physical activity as assessed by the number of city blocks walked in 1 week. Volumetric changes were further modeled with omega-3 fatty acid estimates to better understand the mechanistic link between fish consumption, brain health, and Alzheimer disease.

RESULTS: Weekly consumption of baked or broiled fish was positively associated with gray matter volumes in the hippocampus, precuneus, posterior cingulate, and orbital frontal cortex even after adjusting for covariates. These results did not change when including omega-3 fatty acid estimates in the analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: Dietary consumption of baked or broiled fish is related to larger gray matter volumes independent of omega-3 fatty acid content. These findings suggest that a confluence of lifestyle factors influence brain health, adding to the growing body of evidence that prevention strategies for late-life brain health need to begin decades earlier.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Animals, Brain, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Fishes, Gray Matter, Humans, Life Style, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Regression Analysis, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {1873-2607}, doi = {10.1016/j.amepre.2014.05.037}, author = {Raji, Cyrus A and Erickson, Kirk I and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Gach, H Michael and Thompson, Paul M and Riverol, Mario and Becker, James T} } @article {9409, title = {A self-report risk index to predict occurrence of dementia in three independent cohorts of older adults: the ANU-ADRI.}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {9}, year = {2014}, month = {2014}, pages = {e86141}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Australian National University AD Risk Index (ANU-ADRI, http://anuadri.anu.edu.au) is a self-report risk index developed using an evidence-based medicine approach to measure risk of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD). We aimed to evaluate the extent to which the ANU-ADRI can predict the risk of AD in older adults and to compare the ANU-ADRI to the dementia risk index developed from the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study for middle-aged cohorts.

METHODS: This study included three validation cohorts, i.e., the Rush Memory and Aging Study (MAP) (n = 903, age >=53 years), the Kungsholmen Project (KP) (n = 905, age >=75 years), and the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study (CVHS) (n = 2496, age >=65 years) that were each followed for dementia. Baseline data were collected on exposure to the 15 risk factors included in the ANU-ADRI of which MAP had 10, KP had 8 and CVHS had 9. Risk scores and C-statistics were computed for individual participants for the ANU-ADRI and the CAIDE index.

RESULTS: For the ANU-ADRI using available data, the MAP study c-statistic was 0{\textperiodcentered}637 (95\% CI 0{\textperiodcentered}596-0{\textperiodcentered}678), for the KP study it was 0{\textperiodcentered}740 (0{\textperiodcentered}712-0{\textperiodcentered}768) and for the CVHS it was 0{\textperiodcentered}733 (0{\textperiodcentered}691-0{\textperiodcentered}776) for predicting AD. When a common set of risk and protective factors were used c-statistics were 0.689 (95\% CI 0.650-0.727), 0.666 (0.628-0.704) and 0.734 (0.707-0.761) for MAP, KP and CVHS respectively. Results for CAIDE ranged from c-statistics of 0.488 (0.427-0.554) to 0.595 (0.565-0.625).

CONCLUSION: A composite risk score derived from the ANU-ADRI weights including 8-10 risk or protective factors is a valid, self-report tool to identify those at risk of AD and dementia. The accuracy can be further improved in studies including more risk factors and younger cohorts with long-term follow-up.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Risk, ROC Curve, Self Report}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0086141}, author = {Anstey, Kaarin J and Cherbuin, Nicolas and Herath, Pushpani M and Qiu, Chengxuan and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Wilson, Robert S and Fratiglioni, Laura} } @article {7017, title = {Vitamin D and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease.}, journal = {Neurology}, volume = {83}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Sep 2}, pages = {920-8}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether low vitamin D concentrations are associated with an increased risk of incident all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease.

METHODS: One thousand six hundred fifty-eight elderly ambulatory adults free from dementia, cardiovascular disease, and stroke who participated in the US population-based Cardiovascular Health Study between 1992-1993 and 1999 were included. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry from blood samples collected in 1992-1993. Incident all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease status were assessed during follow-up using National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria.

RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 5.6 years, 171 participants developed all-cause dementia, including 102 cases of Alzheimer disease. Using Cox proportional hazards models, the multivariate adjusted hazard ratios (95\% confidence interval [CI]) for incident all-cause dementia in participants who were severely 25(OH)D deficient (<25 nmol/L) and deficient (>=25 to <50 nmol/L) were 2.25 (95\% CI: 1.23-4.13) and 1.53 (95\% CI: 1.06-2.21) compared to participants with sufficient concentrations (>=50 nmol/L). The multivariate adjusted hazard ratios for incident Alzheimer disease in participants who were severely 25(OH)D deficient and deficient compared to participants with sufficient concentrations were 2.22 (95\% CI: 1.02-4.83) and 1.69 (95\% CI: 1.06-2.69). In multivariate adjusted penalized smoothing spline plots, the risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease markedly increased below a threshold of 50 nmol/L.

CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a substantially increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease. This adds to the ongoing debate about the role of vitamin D in nonskeletal conditions.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, United States, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency}, issn = {1526-632X}, doi = {10.1212/WNL.0000000000000755}, author = {Littlejohns, Thomas J and Henley, William E and Lang, Iain A and Annweiler, Cedric and Beauchet, Olivier and Chaves, Paulo H M and Fried, Linda and Kestenbaum, Bryan R and Kuller, Lewis H and Langa, Kenneth M and Lopez, Oscar L and Kos, Katarina and Soni, Maya and Llewellyn, David J} } @article {6811, title = {Association of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity With Mortality.}, journal = {JAMA}, volume = {314}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jul 7}, pages = {52-60}, abstract = {

IMPORTANCE: The prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity is increasing.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate reductions in life expectancy associated with cardiometabolic multimorbidity.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using individual participant data from the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration (689,300 participants; 91 cohorts; years of baseline surveys: 1960-2007; latest mortality follow-up: April 2013; 128,843 deaths). The HRs from the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration were compared with those from the UK Biobank (499,808 participants; years of baseline surveys: 2006-2010; latest mortality follow-up: November 2013; 7995 deaths). Cumulative survival was estimated by applying calculated age-specific HRs for mortality to contemporary US age-specific death rates.

EXPOSURES: A history of 2 or more of the following: diabetes mellitus, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: All-cause mortality and estimated reductions in life expectancy.

RESULTS: In participants in the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration without a history of diabetes, stroke, or MI at baseline (reference group), the all-cause mortality rate adjusted to the age of 60 years was 6.8 per 1000 person-years. Mortality rates per 1000 person-years were 15.6 in participants with a history of diabetes, 16.1 in those with stroke, 16.8 in those with MI, 32.0 in those with both diabetes and MI, 32.5 in those with both diabetes and stroke, 32.8 in those with both stroke and MI, and 59.5 in those with diabetes, stroke, and MI. Compared with the reference group, the HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.9 (95\% CI, 1.8-2.0) in participants with a history of diabetes, 2.1 (95\% CI, 2.0-2.2) in those with stroke, 2.0 (95\% CI, 1.9-2.2) in those with MI, 3.7 (95\% CI, 3.3-4.1) in those with both diabetes and MI, 3.8 (95\% CI, 3.5-4.2) in those with both diabetes and stroke, 3.5 (95\% CI, 3.1-4.0) in those with both stroke and MI, and 6.9 (95\% CI, 5.7-8.3) in those with diabetes, stroke, and MI. The HRs from the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration were similar to those from the more recently recruited UK Biobank. The HRs were little changed after further adjustment for markers of established intermediate pathways (eg, levels of lipids and blood pressure) and lifestyle factors (eg, smoking, diet). At the age of 60 years, a history of any 2 of these conditions was associated with 12 years of reduced life expectancy and a history of all 3 of these conditions was associated with 15 years of reduced life expectancy.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Mortality associated with a history of diabetes, stroke, or MI was similar for each condition. Because any combination of these conditions was associated with multiplicative mortality risk, life expectancy was substantially lower in people with multimorbidity.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Comorbidity, Diabetes Mellitus, Female, Humans, Life Expectancy, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Myocardial Infarction, Risk Factors, Stroke}, issn = {1538-3598}, doi = {10.1001/jama.2015.7008}, author = {Di Angelantonio, Emanuele and Kaptoge, Stephen and Wormser, David and Willeit, Peter and Butterworth, Adam S and Bansal, Narinder and O{\textquoteright}Keeffe, Linda M and Gao, Pei and Wood, Angela M and Burgess, Stephen and Freitag, Daniel F and Pennells, Lisa and Peters, Sanne A and Hart, Carole L and H{\r a}heim, Lise Lund and Gillum, Richard F and Nordestgaard, B{\o}rge G and Psaty, Bruce M and Yeap, Bu B and Knuiman, Matthew W and Nietert, Paul J and Kauhanen, Jussi and Salonen, Jukka T and Kuller, Lewis H and Simons, Leon A and van der Schouw, Yvonne T and Barrett-Connor, Elizabeth and Selmer, Randi and Crespo, Carlos J and Rodriguez, Beatriz and Verschuren, W M Monique and Salomaa, Veikko and Sv{\"a}rdsudd, Kurt and van der Harst, Pim and Bj{\"o}rkelund, Cecilia and Wilhelmsen, Lars and Wallace, Robert B and Brenner, Hermann and Amouyel, Philippe and Barr, Elizabeth L M and Iso, Hiroyasu and Onat, Altan and Trevisan, Maurizio and D{\textquoteright}Agostino, Ralph B and Cooper, Cyrus and Kavousi, Maryam and Welin, Lennart and Roussel, Ronan and Hu, Frank B and Sato, Shinichi and Davidson, Karina W and Howard, Barbara V and Leening, Maarten J G and Leening, Maarten and Rosengren, Annika and D{\"o}rr, Marcus and Deeg, Dorly J H and Kiechl, Stefan and Stehouwer, Coen D A and Nissinen, Aulikki and Giampaoli, Simona and Donfrancesco, Chiara and Kromhout, Daan and Price, Jackie F and Peters, Annette and Meade, Tom W and Casiglia, Edoardo and Lawlor, Debbie A and Gallacher, John and Nagel, Dorothea and Franco, Oscar H and Assmann, Gerd and Dagenais, Gilles R and Jukema, J Wouter and Sundstr{\"o}m, Johan and Woodward, Mark and Brunner, Eric J and Khaw, Kay-Tee and Wareham, Nicholas J and Whitsel, Eric A and Nj{\o}lstad, Inger and Hedblad, Bo and Wassertheil-Smoller, Sylvia and Engstr{\"o}m, Gunnar and Rosamond, Wayne D and Selvin, Elizabeth and Sattar, Naveed and Thompson, Simon G and Danesh, John} } @article {6822, title = {Empirically Derived Trajectories to Dementia Over 15 Years of Follow-up Identified by Using Mixed Membership Models.}, journal = {Am J Epidemiol}, volume = {182}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Aug 15}, pages = {366-74}, abstract = {

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, and the complex relationships among risk factors produce highly variable natural histories from normal cognition through the prodromal stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to clinical dementia. We used a novel statistical approach, mixed membership trajectory models, to capture the variety of such pathways in 652 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study over 22 years of follow-up (1992-2014). We identified 3 trajectories: a "healthy" profile with a peak probability of MCI between 95 and 100 years of age and only a 50\% probability of dementia by age 100; an "intermediate" profile with a peak probability of MCI between 85 and 90 years of age and progression to dementia between 90 and 95 years; and an "unhealthy" profile with a peak probability of progressing to MCI between ages 75 and 80 years and to dementia between the ages of 80 and 85 years. Hypertension, education, race, and the ϵ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene all affected the closeness of an individual to 1 or more of the canonical trajectories. These results provide new insights into the natural history of Alzheimer disease and evidence for a potential difference in the pathophysiology of the development of dementia.

}, keywords = {Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoprotein E4, Cardiovascular Diseases, Comorbidity, Dementia, Diabetes Mellitus, Disease Progression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Neuroimaging, Prevalence, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution}, issn = {1476-6256}, doi = {10.1093/aje/kwv051}, author = {Lecci, Fabrizio and Junker, Brian and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Becker, James T} } @article {6540, title = {Physical activity, body mass index, and brain atrophy in Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease.}, journal = {Neurobiol Aging}, volume = {36 Suppl 1}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jan}, pages = {S194-S202}, abstract = {

The purpose of this study was to use a novel imaging biomarker to assess associations between physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), and brain structure in normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s dementia. We studied 963 participants (mean age: 74.1 {\textpm} 4.4 years) from the multisite Cardiovascular Health Study including healthy controls (n~= 724), Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s dementia patients (n~=~104), and people with mild cognitive impairment (n~= 135). Volumetric brain images were processed using tensor-based morphometry to analyze regional brain volumes. We regressed the local brain tissue volume on reported PA and computed BMI, and performed conjunction analyses using both variables. Covariates included age, sex, and study site. PA was independently associated with greater whole brain and regional brain volumes and reduced ventricular dilation. People with higher BMI had lower whole brain and regional brain volumes. A PA-BMI conjunction analysis showed brain preservation with PA and volume loss with increased BMI in overlapping brain regions. In one of the largest voxel-based cross-sectional studies to date, PA and lower BMI may be beneficial to the brain across the spectrum of aging and neurodegeneration.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Atrophy, Biomarkers, Body Mass Index, Brain, Cognitive Dysfunction, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Motor Activity, Neuroimaging}, issn = {1558-1497}, doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.05.036}, author = {Boyle, Christina P and Raji, Cyrus A and Erickson, Kirk I and Lopez, Oscar L and Becker, James T and Gach, H Michael and Longstreth, W T and Teverovskiy, Leonid and Kuller, Lewis H and Carmichael, Owen T and Thompson, Paul M} } @article {6878, title = {Prognostic Significance of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Concentrations between the Limit of Blank and Limit of Detection in Community-Dwelling Adults: A Metaanalysis.}, journal = {Clin Chem}, volume = {61}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Dec}, pages = {1524-31}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: There is controversy regarding whether to report concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) to the limit of blank (LOB) (3 ng/L) or the limit of detection (LOD) (5 ng/L) of the assay in community-based cohorts. We hypothesized that hs-cTnT concentrations between the LOB and LOD would be associated with poorer cardiovascular outcomes compared to concentrations below the LOB.

METHODS: hs-cTnT was analyzed in a total of 10 723 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, and Dallas Heart Study (DHS). Participants were divided into 2 groups, those with hs-cTnT concentrations below the limit of blank (LOB) (<3 ng/L) and those with hs-cTnT between the LOB and limit of detection (LOD) (3-4.99 ng/L). Cross-sectional associations with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac structural measurements, and longitudinal associations with long-term cardiovascular outcomes of incident heart failure and cardiovascular death, were determined.

RESULTS: Participants with hs-cTnT between the LOB and LOD for all 3 cohorts were older, more likely to be male, and have a higher burden of cardiovascular risk factors and structural pathology. A metaanalysis of the 3 cohorts showed participants with hs-cTnT between the LOB and LOD were at increased risk of new-onset heart failure (hazard ratio, 1.18; 95\% CI, 1.02-1.38) and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio, 1.29; 95\% CI, 1.06-1.57).

CONCLUSIONS: hs-cTnT concentrations between the LOB and LOD (3-4.99 ng/L) are associated with a higher prevalence of traditional risk factors, more cardiac pathology, and worse outcomes than concentrations below the LOB (<3 ng/L).

}, keywords = {Aged, Atherosclerosis, Biomarkers, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Heart Failure, Humans, Independent Living, Limit of Detection, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Myocardial Infarction, Prognosis, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Troponin T}, issn = {1530-8561}, doi = {10.1373/clinchem.2015.244160}, author = {Parikh, Ravi H and Seliger, Stephen L and de Lemos, James and Nambi, Vijay and Christenson, Robert and Ayers, Colby and Sun, Wensheng and Gottdiener, John S and Kuller, Lewis H and Ballantyne, Christie and deFilippi, Christopher R} } @article {6593, title = {Relationship between Systemic and Cerebral Vascular Disease and Brain Structure Integrity in Normal Elderly Individuals.}, journal = {J Alzheimers Dis}, volume = {44}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {319-28}, abstract = {

Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are considered a reflection of cerebral and systemic small vessel disease (SVD), and are associated with reductions in brain volume. Like the brain, the kidney is also sensitive to factors that affect vasculature. Glomerular dysfunction due to renal vascular damage can be measured with different biochemical parameters, such as creatinine or cystatin C, although cystatin C is considered to be more accurate than creatinine in the elderly. The purpose of the study was to determine whether manifestations of SVD in the kidney can predict SVD-based damage to the brain. We examined the relationship between glomerular dysfunction as a measure of SVD on WMLs, gray matter (GM) volume, and cognition in 735 cognitively normal participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study. The multivariate analyses controlled for demographic characteristics, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, Apolipoprotein 4 allele, C reactive protein, lipids, physical activity, smoking, and body mass index (BMI). Elevated cystatin C levels were associated with lower neuropsychological test scores, the presence of MRI-identified brain infarcts, the severity of WMLs, and GM atrophy five years later. In adjusted models, GM volume was significantly associated with cystatin-C only until BMI and severity of WMLs were added to the model, meaning that the effect of SVD on GM volume is mediated by these two variables. These findings suggest that age-related SVD is a process that leads to altered brain structure, and creates a vulnerability state for cognitive decline.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Brain, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Logistic Models, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Peripheral Vascular Diseases, Predictive Value of Tests, Retrospective Studies, White Matter}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-141077}, author = {Riverol, Mario and Becker, James T and Lopez, Oscar L and Raji, Cyrus A and Thompson, Paul M and Carmichael, Owen T and Gach, H Michael and Longstreth, William T and Fried, Linda and Tracy, Russell P and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {6773, title = {Voxel Level Survival Analysis of Grey Matter Volume and Incident Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease.}, journal = {J Alzheimers Dis}, volume = {46}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {167-78}, abstract = {

The purpose of this study was to identify, at the voxel level, brain regions associated with the time to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD) from normal cognition. We analyzed incident MCI (n = 58) or AD (n = 151) in 292 cognitively normal participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study (mean age = 79.2 {\textpm} 3.6 years). We used segmented, modulated grey matter maps from 3D (spoiled gradient echo) MRI scans obtained in 1998/99 (with clinical follow-up through 2012) that were smoothed with a 3-D 4 mm Gaussian filter. We fit approximately 1.92 million voxel-level Cox proportional hazard models to examine the grey matter volume effect on time to event, adjusting for age, sex, and diabetes. We used the significance threshold of p <  0.005 with contiguity threshold of at least 68 voxels (false detection probability <2.5{\texttimes}10 -8). Areas within the mesial temporal lobe (MTL), anterior temporal lobe, hippocampus, and posterior cingulate gyrus were associated with time to MCI or AD. The presence of white matter lesions (a marker of small vessel disease in the brain) was associated with the volumes of the MTL and precuneus; MRI-identified infarcts also predicted MTL volume. These findings are important because we identified critical brain regions that predict a person{\textquoteright}s increased likelihood of developing MCI or AD over a decade prior to the onset of clinical symptoms; these critical brain regions were themselves affected by the presence of vascular disease.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Chi-Square Distribution, Disease Progression, Female, Gray Matter, Humans, Incidence, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Survival Analysis}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-150047}, author = {Zeifman, Lubov E and Eddy, William F and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H and Raji, Cyrus and Thompson, Paul M and Becker, James T} } @article {6931, title = {APOL1 Genotype, Kidney and Cardiovascular Disease, and Death in Older Adults.}, journal = {Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol}, volume = {36}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Feb}, pages = {398-403}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the cardiovascular impact of coding variants in the apolipoprotein L1 gene APOL1 that protect against trypanosome infection but have been associated with kidney disease among African Americans.

APPROACH AND RESULTS: As part of the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort of Americans aged >=65 years, we genotyped APOL1 polymorphisms rs73885319 and rs71785153 and examined kidney function, subclinical atherosclerosis, and incident cardiovascular disease and death over 13 years of follow-up among 91 African Americans with 2 risk alleles, 707 other African Americans, and 4964 white participants. The high-risk genotype with 2 risk alleles was associated with 2-fold higher levels of albuminuria and lower ankle-brachial indices but similar carotid intima-media thickness among African Americans. Median survival among high-risk African Americans was 9.9 years (95\% confidence interval [CI], 8.7-11.9), compared with 13.6 years (95\% CI, 12.5-14.3) among other African Americans and 13.3 years (95\% CI, 13.0-13.6) among whites (P=0.03). The high-risk genotype was also associated with increased risk for incident myocardial infarction (adjusted hazard ratio 1.8; 95\% CI, 1.1-3.0) and mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.3; 95\% CI 1.0-1.7). Albuminuria and risk for myocardial infarction and mortality were nearly identical between African Americans with 0 to 1 risk alleles and whites.

CONCLUSIONS: APOL1 genotype is associated with albuminuria, subclinical atherosclerosis, incident myocardial infarction, and mortality in older African Americans. African Americans without 2 risk alleles do not differ significantly in risk of myocardial infarction or mortality from whites. APOL1 trypanolytic variants may account for a substantial proportion of the excess risk of chronic disease in African Americans.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Age Factors, Aged, Albuminuria, Apolipoproteins, Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cause of Death, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Gene Frequency, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Health Status Disparities, Heterozygote, Homozygote, Humans, Incidence, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Kidney Diseases, Lipoproteins, HDL, Male, Myocardial Infarction, Phenotype, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Time Factors, United States}, issn = {1524-4636}, doi = {10.1161/ATVBAHA.115.305970}, author = {Mukamal, Kenneth J and Tremaglio, Joseph and Friedman, David J and Ix, Joachim H and Kuller, Lewis H and Tracy, Russell P and Pollak, Martin R} } @article {6997, title = {Associations of insulin resistance, inflammation and liver synthetic function with very low-density lipoprotein: The Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Metabolism}, volume = {65}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Mar}, pages = {92-9}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: Production of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is increased in states of metabolic syndrome, leading to hypertriglyceridemia. However, metabolic syndrome is often associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which leads to liver fibrosis and inflammation that may decrease VLDL production. In this study, we aim to determine the interactive impact on VLDL profiles from insulin resistance, impairment in liver synthetic function and inflammation.

METHODS: We examined cross-sectional associations of insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and liver synthetic function with VLDL particle (VLDL-P) concentration and size among 1,850 older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

RESULTS: Indices for high insulin sensitivity and low liver synthetic function were associated with lower concentrations of VLDL-P. In addition, insulin resistance preferentially increased concentration of large VLDL and was associated with mean VLDL size. Indices for inflammation however demonstrated a nonlinear relationship with both VLDL-P concentration and VLDL size. When mutually adjusted, one standard deviation (SD) increment in Matsuda index and C-reactive protein (CRP) were associated with 4.9 nmol/L (-8.2 to -1.5, p=0.005) and 6.3 nmol/L (-11.0 to -1.6, p=0.009) lower VLDL-P concentration respectively. In contrast, one-SD increment in factor VII, a marker for liver synthetic function, was associated with 16.9 nmol/L (12.6-21.2, p<0.001) higher VLDL-P concentration. Furthermore, a one-SD increment in the Matsuda index was associated with 1.1 nm (-2.0 to -0.3, p=0.006) smaller mean VLDL size, whereas CRP and factor VII were not associated with VLDL size.

CONCLUSION: Insulin sensitivity, inflammation and markers for liver synthetic function differentially impact VLDL-P concentration and VLDL size. These results underscore the complex effects of insulin resistance and its complications on VLDL production.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, C-Reactive Protein, Cross-Sectional Studies, Factor VII, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Lipoproteins, VLDL, Liver, Liver Function Tests, Male, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors}, issn = {1532-8600}, doi = {10.1016/j.metabol.2015.10.017}, author = {Jiang, Z Gordon and de Boer, Ian H and Mackey, Rachel H and Jensen, Majken K and Lai, Michelle and Robson, Simon C and Tracy, Russell and Kuller, Lewis H and Mukamal, Kenneth J} } @article {6877, title = {Risk of dementia and death in the long-term follow-up of the Pittsburgh Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study.}, journal = {Alzheimers Dement}, volume = {12}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Feb}, pages = {170-83}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: Increasing life expectancy has resulted in a larger population of older individuals at risk of dementia.

METHODS: The Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study followed 532 participants from 1998-99 (mean age 79) to 2013 (mean age 93) for death and dementia.

RESULTS: Risk of death was determined by extent of coronary artery calcium, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin, brain natriuretic peptide, and white matter grade. Significant predictors of dementia were age, apolipoprotein-E4, vocabulary raw score, hippocampal volume, ventricular size, cognitive performance, and number of blocks walked. By 2013, 160 of 532 were alive, including 19 cognitively normal. Those with normal cognition had higher grade education, better cognition test scores, greater hippocampal volume, faster gait speed, and number of blocks walked as compared with survivors who were demented.

DISCUSSION: Few survived free of dementia and disability. Prevention and delay of cognitive decline for this older population is an imperative.

}, keywords = {African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Apolipoprotein E4, Brain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition, Dementia, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Pennsylvania, Risk Factors, Walking}, issn = {1552-5279}, doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2015.08.165}, author = {Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Becker, James T and Chang, Yuefang and Newman, Anne B} } @article {6932, title = {Study of Cardiovascular Health Outcomes in the Era of Claims Data: The Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {133}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jan 12}, pages = {156-64}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, the diagnostic codes from administrative claims data are being used as clinical outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) were used to compare event rates and risk factor associations between adjudicated hospitalized cardiovascular events and claims-based methods of defining events. The outcomes of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and heart failure were defined in 3 ways: the CHS adjudicated event (CHS[adj]), selected International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition diagnostic codes only in the primary position for Medicare claims data from the Center for Medicare \& Medicaid Services (CMS[1st]), and the same selected diagnostic codes in any position (CMS[any]). Conventional claims-based methods of defining events had high positive predictive values but low sensitivities. For instance, the positive predictive value of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition code 410.x1 for a new acute MI in the first position was 90.6\%, but this code identified only 53.8\% of incident MIs. The observed event rates for CMS[1st] were low. For MI, the incidence was 14.9 events per 1000 person-years for CHS[adj] MI, 8.6 for CMS[1st] MI, and 12.2 for CMS[any] MI. In general, cardiovascular disease risk factor associations were similar across the 3 methods of defining events. Indeed, traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors were also associated with all first hospitalizations not resulting from an MI.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of diagnostic codes from claims data as clinical events, especially when restricted to primary diagnoses, leads to an underestimation of event rates. Additionally, claims-based events data represent a composite end point that includes the outcome of interest and selected (misclassified) nonevent hospitalizations.

}, keywords = {Blood Glucose, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Surveys, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Veterans, Humans, Insurance Claim Review, International Classification of Diseases, Lipids, Male, Managed Care Programs, Medicare, Risk Factors, Sampling Studies, Treatment Outcome, United States}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018610}, author = {Psaty, Bruce M and Delaney, Joseph A and Arnold, Alice M and Curtis, Lesley H and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Heckbert, Susan R and McKnight, Barbara and Ives, Diane and Gottdiener, John S and Kuller, Lewis H and Longstreth, W T} } @article {6998, title = {Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease and Death, Dementia, and Coronary Heart Disease in Patients 80+ Years.}, journal = {J Am Coll Cardiol}, volume = {67}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Mar 8}, pages = {1013-22}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The successful prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke has resulted in a substantial increase in longevity, with subsequent growth in the population of older people at risk for dementia.

OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the relationship of coronary and other peripheral atherosclerosis to risk of death, dementia, and CHD in the very elderly. Because the extent of vascular disease differs substantially between men and women, sex- and race-specific analyses were included, with a specific focus on women with low coronary artery calcium (CAC) Agatston scores.

METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CAC, carotid intimal medial thickness, stenosis, and ankle brachial index) and risk of dementia, CHD, and total mortality in 532 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study from 1998/1999 (mean age, 80 years) to 2012/2013 (mean age, 93 years).

RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of participants had CAC scores >400. Women and African-Americans had lower CAC scores. Few men had low CAC scores. CAC score and number of coronary calcifications were directly related to age-adjusted total mortality and CHD. The age-specific incidence of dementia was higher than for CHD. Only about 25\% of deaths were caused by CHD and 16\% by dementia. Approximately 64\% of those who died had a prior diagnosis of dementia. White women with low CAC scores had a significantly decreased incidence of dementia.

CONCLUSIONS: In subjects 80+ years of age, there is a greater incidence of dementia than of CHD. CAC, as a marker of atherosclerosis, is a determinant of mortality, and risk of CHD and myocardial infarction. White women with low CAC scores had a significantly decreased risk of dementia. A very important unanswered question, especially in the very elderly, is whether prevention of atherosclerosis and its complications is associated with less Alzheimer disease pathology and dementia. (Cardiovascular Health Study [CHS]; NCT00005133).

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Coronary Artery Disease, Dementia, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Pennsylvania, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Survival Rate}, issn = {1558-3597}, doi = {10.1016/j.jacc.2015.12.034}, author = {Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Mackey, Rachel H and Rosano, Caterina and Edmundowicz, Daniel and Becker, James T and Newman, Anne B} } @article {9095, title = {Longitudinal Changes in Hearing and Visual Impairments and Risk of Dementia in Older Adults in the United States.}, journal = {JAMA Netw Open}, volume = {5}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 05 02}, pages = {e2210734}, abstract = {

Importance: Hearing and vision problems are individually associated with increased dementia risk, but the impact of having concurrent hearing and vision deficits, ie, dual sensory impairment (DSI), on risk of dementia, including its major subtypes Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), is not well known.

Objective: To evaluate whether DSI is associated with incident dementia in older adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) was conducted between 1992 and 1999, with as many as 8 years of follow-up. The multicenter, population-based sample was recruited from Medicare eligibility files in 4 US communities with academic medical centers. Of 5888 participants aged 65 years and older in CHS, 3602 underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging and completed the modified Mini-Mental State Examination in 1992 to 1994 as part of the CHS Cognition Study. A total of 227 participants were excluded due to prevalent dementia, leaving a total of 3375 participants without dementia at study baseline. The study hypothesis was that DSI would be associated with increased risk of dementia compared with no sensory impairment. The association between the duration of DSI with risk of dementia was also evaluated. Data analysis was conducted from November 2019 to February 2020.

Exposures: Hearing and vision impairments were collected via self-report at baseline and as many as 5 follow-up visits.

Main Outcomes and Measures: All-cause dementia, AD, and VaD, classified by a multidisciplinary committee using standardized criteria.

Results: A total of 2927 participants with information on hearing and vision at all available study visits were included in the analysis (mean [SD] age, 74.6 [4.8] years; 1704 [58.2\%] women; 455 [15.5\%] African American or Black; 2472 [85.5\%] White). Compared with no sensory impairment, DSI was associated with increased risk of all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 2.60; 95\% CI, 1.66-2.06; P < .001), AD (HR, 3.67; 95\% CI, 2.04-6.60; P < .001) but not VaD (HR, 2.03; 95\% CI, 1.00-4.09; P = .05).

Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, DSI was associated with increased risk of dementia, particularly AD. Evaluation of hearing and vision in older adults may help to identify those at high risk of developing dementia.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Cohort Studies, Female, Hearing, Hearing Loss, Humans, Male, Medicare, Prospective Studies, United States, Vision Disorders}, issn = {2574-3805}, doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.10734}, author = {Hwang, Phillip H and Longstreth, W T and Thielke, Stephen M and Francis, Courtney E and Carone, Marco and Kuller, Lewis H and Fitzpatrick, Annette L} }