Atherosclerosis and dementia: a cross-sectional study with pathological analysis of the carotid arteries.

Suemoto, Claudia K; Nitrini, Ricardo; Grinberg, Lea T; Ferretti, Renata E L; Farfel, José M; Leite, Renata E P; Menezes, Paulo R; Fregni, Felipe et al. · Stroke · 2011

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

Previous ultrasound-based studies have shown an association between carotid artery atherosclerosis and dementia. Our aim was to investigate this association using postmortem examination. Postmortem morphometric measurements of carotid stenosis and intima-media thickness were performed in individuals with dementia (n=112) and control subjects (n=577). Multivariate logistic regression models were applied. High-grade left internal carotid stenosis (≥70%) was associated with increased odds for dementia (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.14-4.74; P=0.02). Intima-media thickness was not associated with dementia. The likelihood of dementia is increased with high-grade left internal carotid artery atherosclerosis after adjusting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors.

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