Journal article
Education moderates the effects of large central artery aging on cognitive performance in middle‐aged and older adults
Physiological reports, Vol.7(23), pp.e14291-n/a
12/2019
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14291
PMCID: PMC6908737
PMID: 31833225
Abstract
Central artery aging, including elevated aortic stiffness, central blood pressure (BP), and pulse pressure (PP), is a novel risk factor for the development of age‐associated cognitive dysfunction. Individuals with higher educational attainment may develop greater brain pathology prior to the onset of cognitive decline. However, whether education moderates relations between central artery aging and cognitive performance is unknown. We hypothesized that years of formal education would moderate the relation between central artery aging and cognitive performance in middle‐aged/older (MA/O) adults (n = 113, age 67.3 ± 0.7 years). Significant interactions between education*central systolic BP (β = .21, p = .02) and education*central PP (β = .22, p = .01) demonstrated weaker associations between central BP and PP with processing speed performance in those with higher education. Similarly, education moderated the relation between aortic stiffness (carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity, cfPWV) and executive function performance (β = .21, p = .02). To test if the relation between central arterial aging and cognitive performance was captured by a predetermined education threshold, MA/O adults were secondarily categorized as ≤high school (HS) (i.e., ≤12 years, n = 36) or >HS (≥13 years, n = 77). Higher central systolic BP was associated with slower processing speed (≤HS: r = −.59, p < .001 vs. >HS: r = −.25, p = .03) and weaker executive function (r = −.39, p = .03 vs. r = −.32, p = .006). Higher cfPWV was selectively correlated with weaker executive function performance (r = −.39, p = .03) in ≤HS only and this association significantly differed between education groups. Educational attainment appears to moderate the adverse effects of central artery aging on cognitive performance among MA/O adults.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Education moderates the effects of large central artery aging on cognitive performance in middle‐aged and older adults
- Creators
- Lyndsey E DuBose - Department of Health and Human Physiology University of Iowa Iowa City IowaDavid J Moser - Department of Psychiatry University of Iowa Iowa City IowaEmily Harlynn - Department of Psychiatry University of Iowa Iowa City IowaJess G Fiedorowicz - Department of Psychiatry University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa, Department of Epidemiology University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa, Department of Internal Medicine University of Iowa Iowa City IowaGary L Pierce - Department of Health and Human Physiology University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa, Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Physiological reports, Vol.7(23), pp.e14291-n/a
- DOI
- 10.14814/phy2.14291
- PMID
- 31833225
- PMCID
- PMC6908737
- NLM abbreviation
- Physiol Rep
- ISSN
- 2051-817X
- eISSN
- 2051-817X
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: PPG HL014388‐48, R01AG030417‐01A2, UL1TR002537
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2019
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Epidemiology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Medicine Administration; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology ; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984070378502771
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