Ultrasonographic Assessment of Carotid Wall Characteristics and Cognitive Functions in a Community Sample of 59- to 71-Year-Olds

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Abstract
Background and Purpose This study was aimed at analyzing cross-sectional relationships between cognitive performance and ultrasonographic assessment of carotid wall characteristics. Methods A cohort of 1279 subjects (men, 41%) aged 59 to 71 years was recruited from the electoral rolls of the city of Nantes (western France). Cognitive performances were evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and seven neuropsychological tests assessing attention, psychomotor rapidity, verbal abilities, memory, and visuospatial perception. For each test, subjects were classified into three performance levels with a quartile distribution: 25% highest, 25% lowest, and 50% middle. The intima-media thickness of common carotid arteries and the presence of plaques in the carotid arteries were assessed with B-mode ultrasound examination. Results Only 28% of men and 17% of women had carotid plaques inducing moderate stenosis of the lumen (Conclusions This study indicated a moderate association between atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries and poor cognitive functioning in men aged 59 to 71 years. In view of these moderate cross-sectional results, further studies are required to better assess the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive impairment.