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Composite Cardiovascular Risk Scores and Neuropsychological Functioning: A Meta-Analytic Review

  • Original Article
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Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

The ability for patients to understand their risk for disease is important to early intervention and effective treatment. The link between individual cardiovascular risk factors and cognition has been well-established.

Purpose

This study investigated the relationship between cognition and a combination of these factors through a single composite risk score.

Methods

This study quantitatively summarized the strength of the association between composite cardiovascular risk scores and cognitive test performance using meta-analytic methods.

Results

One hundred and nine effect sizes were obtained from 19 studies employing 54,564 participants. Composite risk scores showed a significant association (r = −0.16) with cognitive test performance. Cognitive domain and age did not significantly modify this relationship.

Conclusions

Composite cardiovascular risk scores can be useful indicators of future cognition. The development of a dementia risk score using similar risk factors could aid in the assessment and lifestyle interventions of persons at risk for dementia.

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Authors’ Statement of Conflict of Interest

Jonathan DeRight, Randall Jorgensen, and Misaell Josued Cabral declare that they have no conflict of interest. All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000.

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  1. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Jonathan DeRight Ph.D., Randall S. Jorgensen Ph.D. & Misaell J. Cabral B.S.

  2. 600 N. Wolfe St, Meyer 218, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Jonathan DeRight Ph.D.

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DeRight, J., Jorgensen, R.S. & Cabral, M.J. Composite Cardiovascular Risk Scores and Neuropsychological Functioning: A Meta-Analytic Review. ann. behav. med. 49, 344–357 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-014-9681-0

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