Li Jiatong, Barinas-Mitchell Emma, Chang Yuefang, Snitz Beth E, Lopresti Brian, DelBene Alex, Sekikawa Akira, Lopez Oscar L
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2025 Jul 23;9:25424823251358278. doi: 10.1177/25424823251358278. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.
Extracranial carotid artery calcification (ECAC) is a known risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and has been associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. However, the relationship between ECAC and amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in older adults has not been fully understood.
This study aims to determine the relationship between ECAC and Aβ deposition in very old adults.
90 participants (87.2 ± 2.7 years old, 96% whites, 63% males) without dementia from an observational study were included in the cross-sectional analysis. Aβ deposition in the brain was assessed using the C-labeled Pittsburgh compound-B positron emission tomography (PiB-PET) scans performed in 2009 and 2011. Carotid artery plaque and ECAC status were measured via high-resolution carotid ultrasonography in 2011.
Among the participants, 82 (91%) had carotid plaques, and 46 (51%) were globally Aβ positive by PiB-PET. ECAC was less frequently observed in the Aβ positive group compared to the Aβ negative group (90% versus 81%, p = 0.3). The odds of Aβ positivity in those with ECAC were 62% lower than in those without ECAC. However, the association was not statistically significant (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: [0.08, 1.76 ], p = 0.2).
In the population whose average age is older than 85 without dementia, there is no statistically significant association between ECAC and Aβ deposition after adjusting for confounding factors. The relationship between ECAC and dementia in older adults warrants further analysis in a larger and more racially and ethnically diverse population.
颅外颈动脉钙化（ECAC）是已知的心血管疾病（CVD）发病风险因素，且与痴呆和阿尔茨海默病风险增加相关。然而，老年人中ECAC与淀粉样蛋白-β（Aβ）沉积之间的关系尚未完全明确。
本研究旨在确定高龄老年人中ECAC与Aβ沉积之间的关系。
一项观察性研究中的90名无痴呆参与者（年龄87.2±2.7岁，96%为白人，63%为男性）纳入横断面分析。2009年和2011年进行的¹¹C标记的匹兹堡化合物B正电子发射断层扫描（PiB-PET）用于评估脑内Aβ沉积。2011年通过高分辨率颈动脉超声测量颈动脉斑块和ECAC状态。
参与者中，82人（91%）有颈动脉斑块，46人（51%）PiB-PET显示Aβ整体呈阳性。与Aβ阴性组相比，Aβ阳性组中ECAC的发生率较低（90%对81%，p = 0.3）。有ECAC者Aβ呈阳性的几率比无ECAC者低62%。然而，该关联无统计学意义（OR = 0.38，95%CI：[0.08，1.76]，p = 0.2）。
在平均年龄大于85岁的无痴呆人群中，校正混杂因素后，ECAC与Aβ沉积之间无统计学意义上的关联。老年人中ECAC与痴呆之间的关系有待在更大规模、种族和民族更多样化的人群中进一步分析。
