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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2007;27:141.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Neuropsychological Performance Is Associated With Vascular Function in Patients With Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

David J. Moser; Robert G. Robinson; Stephanie M. Hynes; Rebecca L. Reese; Stephan Arndt; Jane S. Paulsen; William G. Haynes

From Department of Psychiatry (D.J.M., R.G.R., S.M.H., S.A., J.S.P.), University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Psychology (R.L.R.), Washington University, St. Louis, Mo; Department of Internal Medicine (W.G.H.), General Clinical Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.

Correspondence to David J. Moser, Department of Psychiatry, W278 GH, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000. E-mail david-moser{at}uiowa.edu

Objective— We previously reported preliminary data (N=14) demonstrating a significant and positive relationship between forearm vascular function and neuropsychological performance in individuals with atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD). The current study was conducted to confirm and extend those findings in a much larger, nonoverlapping sample.

Methods and Results— Participants were 82 individuals with AVD, with no history of stroke, cardiac surgery, or dementia. Forearm vascular function was measured before and after brachial artery infusion of vasoactive agents (acetylcholine, nitroprusside, verapamil). Neuropsychological functioning was assessed with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Statistical analysis included multiple regression and partial correlations, controlling for education. Vascular function was significantly and positively associated with neuropsychological performance [R² change=0.116, F change (3,74)=3.72, P=0.015]. Follow-up analyses indicated that smooth muscle function was the aspect of vascular function most strongly associated with neuropsychological performance. Individual vascular risk factors were not significantly associated with neuropsychological performance when controlling for vascular function.

Conclusions— Better vascular function is significantly associated with better neuropsychological performance in individuals with AVD. It is possible that this relationship exists in healthy elderly individuals as well, although this cannot be determined based on the existing data, because a healthy comparison group was not studied. With additional research, measures of vascular function might be useful in the early identification of individuals who are at greatest risk for developing vascular cognitive impairment.

Forearm vascular function was found to be significantly and positively associated with neuropsychological performance in individuals with atherosclerotic vascular disease, after controlling for individual vascular risk factors and other potential confounding variables. With additional research, measures of vascular function might be useful in identifying individuals at greatest risk for vascular cognitive impairment.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • vascular cognitive impairment • vascular function