Masley Steven C, Masley Lucas V, Gualtieri C Thomas
a Masley Optimal Health Center , University of South Florida , St. Petersburg , Florida.
J Am Coll Nutr. 2014;33(1):63-9. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2014.870010.
Multiple cardiovascular risk factors are associated with early cognitive decline. Measures of complex information processing provide one of the earliest signs of cognitive decline and appear related to arterial plaque growth. The purpose of this study was to determine how cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) scores are associated with cognitive function and complex information processing scores.
This study used a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of 536 men and women attending an executive evaluation program. Measurements were made of body composition, cardiovascular status, fitness and diet, and laboratory measures, including carotid IMT. Each subject was tested with a computerized neurocognitive test battery.
Complex information processing (CIP), also called executive function, is independently related to carotid IMT scores (p < 0.01), as are other cardiovascular biomarkers, including aerobic capacity fiber, B12, and long-chain n-3 fatty acid intake (p < 0.01 for each). However, after controlling for carotid IMT, only IMT showed a significant relationship with CIP scores.
Carotid IMT scores are the strongest independent cardiovascular biomarker for cognitive function, especially complex information processing. Greater intake of fiber, long-chain n-3 fatty acids (N3FAs), and vitamin B12, as well as measures of aerobic fitness, is associated with enhanced cognitive function, yet controlling for IMT scores diminished their association. Because decreasing CIP scores are linearly associated with cognitive decline, future randomized clinical trials that yield improvements in carotid IMT scores should also assess for changes in cognitive function.
多种心血管危险因素与早期认知功能下降相关。复杂信息处理能力的测量是认知功能下降最早的迹象之一，且似乎与动脉斑块生长有关。本研究的目的是确定心血管危险因素和颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）评分如何与认知功能及复杂信息处理评分相关。
本研究对参加高管评估项目的536名男性和女性进行了回顾性横断面分析。测量了身体成分、心血管状况、健康状况和饮食情况，以及包括颈动脉IMT在内的实验室指标。每位受试者都接受了一套计算机化神经认知测试。
复杂信息处理（CIP），也称为执行功能，与颈动脉IMT评分独立相关（p < 0.01），其他心血管生物标志物，包括有氧能力纤维、维生素B12和长链n-3脂肪酸摄入量也与之相关（每项p < 0.01）。然而，在控制颈动脉IMT后，只有IMT与CIP评分显示出显著关系。
颈动脉IMT评分是认知功能，尤其是复杂信息处理最强的独立心血管生物标志物。更多地摄入纤维、长链n-3脂肪酸（N3FAs）和维生素B12，以及有氧健身指标，与认知功能增强相关，但控制IMT评分会减弱它们之间的关联。由于CIP评分下降与认知功能下降呈线性相关，未来能使颈动脉IMT评分改善的随机临床试验也应评估认知功能的变化。
