Population Attributable Fraction of Total Stroke Associated with Modifiable Risk Factors in the United States.

Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States across all race/ethnicity and sex groups, though disparities exist. We investigated the potential for primary prevention of total first stroke for Americans aged 20 and older, stratified by sex and race/ethnicity. Specifically, we calculated population attributable fractions (PAF) of first stroke for 7 potentially modifiable risk factors: smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation. PAFs are a function of (1) the relative risk of first stroke for people with the exposure and (2) the prevalence of the risk factor in the population. Relative risks came from recent meta-analyses and sex-race/ethnicity-specific prevalence estimates came from the 2015-2018 NHANES or Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (for atrial fibrillation only). Approximately 1/3 (35.7% [CI: 21.6%-49.0%]) for women, 32.7% [CI: 19.2%-45.1%] for men) of strokes were attributable to the 7 risk factors we considered. A 20% proportional reduction in stroke risk factors would result in approximately 37,000 fewer strokes annually in the United States. The estimated PAF was highest for non-Hispanic Black women (39.3% [CI: 24.8%-52.3%]) and lowest for non-Hispanic Asian men (25.5% [CI: 14.6%-36.2%]). For most groups, obesity and hypertension were the largest contributors to stroke rates.

Weight loss, visit-to-visit body weight variability and cognitive function in older individuals.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the association between variability and loss of body weight with subsequent cognitive performance and activities of daily living in older individuals. DESIGN: cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING: PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk, multicentre trial with participants from Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands. SUBJECTS: 4,309 participants without severe cognitive dysfunction (mean age 75.1 years, standard deviation (SD) = 3.3), at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: body weight was measured every 3 months for 2.5 years. Weight loss was defined as an average slope across all weight measurements and as ≥5% decrease in baseline body weight during follow-up. Visit-to-visit variability was defined as the SD of weight measurements (kg) between visits. Four tests of cognitive function were examined: Stroop test, letter-digit coding test (LDCT), immediate and delayed picture-word learning tests. Two measures of daily living activities: Barthel Index (BI) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). All tests were examined at month 30. RESULTS: both larger body weight variability and loss of ≥5% of baseline weight were independently associated with worse scores on all cognitive tests, but minimally with BI and IADL. Compared with participants with stable weight, participants with significant weight loss performed 5.83 seconds (95% CI 3.74; 7.92) slower on the Stroop test, coded 1.72 digits less (95% CI -2.21; -1.13) on the LDCT and remembered 0.71 pictures less (95% CI -0.93; -0.48) on the delayed picture-word learning test. CONCLUSION: in older people at higher risk for CVD, weight loss and variability are independent risk-factors for worse cognitive function.

Primary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke is by far the most common type of cerebrovascular event and remains a major cause of death and disability globally. Despite advancements in acute stroke care, primary prevention is still the most cost-effective approach in reducing the burden of ischemic stroke. The two main strategies for primary stroke prevention include population-wide versus high-risk group interventions. Interventions such as increasing access to primary care, regulation of salt and sugar contents in processed foods, public education, and campaigns to control cerebrovascular risk factors are examples of population-wide interventions. High-risk group interventions, on the other hand, focus on recognition of individuals at risk and aim to modify risk factors in a timely and multifaceted manner. This article provides an overview on conventional modifiable risk factors for ischemic stroke and highlights the emerging risk factors and approaches for high-risk group identification and treatment.

COVID-19 Respiratory Illness and Subsequent Cerebrovascular Events, the Initial Iranian Experience.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 disproportionately affects older adults and individuals with cardiovascular co-morbidities. This report presents fifteen patients who had COVID-19 respiratory illness followed by cerebrovascular events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A call by the Iranian Neurological Association gathered cases across the country who developed neurological symptoms attributed to hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke after a definite or probable Covid-19 respiratory illness. Definite cases were those with a typical respiratory illness, positive nasopharyngeal Covid-19 PCR test, and chest CT consistent with Covid-19 infection. Probable cases were defined by a typical respiratory illness, history of contacts with a Covid-19 case, and chest CT characteristic for Covid-19 infection. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (12 men and 3 women) with an age range of 38 to 93 years old (median: 65 years old) were included. Fourteen patients had a first-ever acute ischemic stroke and one patient had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Eleven patients (73%) had previous cardiovascular comorbidities. The median time between respiratory symptoms and neurological symptoms was seven days (range 1-16 days). Stroke severity in two patients was mild (NIHSS ≤ 6), in six patients moderate (NIHSS: 7-12), and in seven patients severe (NIHSS ≥13). One patient received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator ( IV-tPA) with improved neurological symptoms. Six out of 15 patients (40%) died. All but one of those who survived had significant disability assessed by a modified ranking scale >2. The majority of patients in this case series had vascular risk factors and their stroke was associated with severe disability and death. CONCLUSION: This report highlights the need for further investigation of the links between Covid-19 and cerebrovascular events.

Coronary heart disease, heart failure, and the risk of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular risk factors are closely linked with dementia risk, but whether heart disease predisposes to dementia is uncertain. METHODS: We systematically reviewed the literature and meta-analyzed risk estimates from longitudinal studies reporting the association of coronary heart disease (CHD) or heart failure (HF) with risk of dementia. RESULTS: We identified 16 studies (1,309,483 individuals) regarding CHD, and seven studies (1,958,702 individuals) about HF. A history of CHD was associated with a 27% increased risk of dementia (pooled relative risk [RR] [95% confidence interval, CI]: 1.27 [1.07-1.50]), albeit with considerable heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 80%). HF was associated with 60% increased dementia risk (pooled RR 1.60 [1.19-2.13]) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 59%). Among prospective population-based cohorts, pooled estimates were similar (for CHD, RR 1.26 [1.06-1.49], nine studies; and HF, RR 1.80 [1.41-2.31], four studies) and highly consistent (I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: CHD and HF are associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Higher Visit-to-Visit Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Variability Is Associated With Lower Cognitive Performance, Lower Cerebral Blood Flow, and Greater White Matter Hyperintensity Load in Older Subjects.

BACKGROUND: Recently, it was shown that intraindividual variation in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) predicts both cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events. We aimed to examine whether this extends to cognitive function and examined possible pathways using a magnetic resonance imaging substudy. METHODS: We investigated the association between LDL-C variability and 4 cognitive domains at month 30 in 4428 participants of PROSPER (PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk). Additionally, we assessed the association of LDL-C variability with neuroimaging outcomes in a subset of 535 participants. LDL-C variability was defined as the intraindividual standard deviation over 4 postbaseline LDL-C measurements, and all analyses were adjusted for mean LDL-C levels and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Higher LDL-C variability was associated with lower cognitive function in both the placebo and pravastatin treatment arms. Associations were present for selective attention (P=0.017 and P=0.11, respectively), processing speed (P=0.20 and P=0.029), and memory (immediate recall, P=0.002 and P=0.006; delayed recall, P=0.001 and P≤0.001). Furthermore, higher LDL-C variability was associated with lower cerebral blood flow in both trial arms (P=0.031 and P=0.050) and with greater white matter hyperintensity load in the pravastatin arm (P=0.046). No evidence was found for interaction between LDL-C variability and pravastatin treatment for both cognitive and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We found that higher visit-to-visit variability in LDL-C, independently of mean LDL-C levels and statin treatment, is associated with lower cognitive performance, lower cerebral blood flow, and greater white matter hyperintensity load.

Cardiac and Carotid Markers Link With Accelerated Brain Atrophy: The AGES-Reykjavik Study (Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik).

OBJECTIVE: Pathologies in the heart-brain axis might, independently or in combination, accelerate the process of brain parenchymal loss. We aimed to investigate the association of serum N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), as a marker of cardiac dysfunction, and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), as a marker of carotid atherosclerosis burden, with structural brain changes. APPROACH AND RESULTS: In the longitudinal population-based AGES-Reykjavik study (Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik), we included 2430 subjects (mean age, 74.6 years; 41.4% men) with baseline data on NT-proBNP and CITM (assessed by ultrasound imaging). Participants underwent a high-resolution brain magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and 5 years later to assess total brain (TBV), gray matter, and white matter volumes. Each unit higher log-transformed NT-proBNP was associated with 3.6 mL (95% confidence interval [CI], -6.0 to -1.1) decline in TBV and 3.5 mL (95% CI, -5.7 to -1.3) decline in gray matter volume. Likewise, each millimeter higher CIMT was associated with 10.8 mL (95% CI, -17.3 to -4.2) decline in TBV and 8.6 mL (95% CI, -14.4 to -2.8) decline in gray matter volume. There was no association between NT-proBNP and CIMT and changes in white matter volume. Compared with participants with low NT-proBNP and CIMT, participants with both high NT-proBNP and CIMT had 3.8 mL (95% CI, -6.0 to -1.6) greater decline in their TBV and 4 mL (95% CI, -6.0 to -2.0) greater decline in GMW. These associations were independent of sociodemographic and cardiovascular factors. CONCLUSIONS: Older subjects with both cardiac dysfunction and carotid atherosclerosis are at an increased risk for brain parenchymal loss. Accumulated pathologies in the heart-brain axis might accelerate brain atrophy.

Hemodynamic and serum cardiac markers and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac function is a key player in maintaining energy homeostasis in the brain. Heart failure is closely related to higher risk of neurocognitive disorders. Recent evidence shows that this relationship might not be limited to patients with advanced heart failure, and even suboptimal cardiac functioning is associated with accelerated brain aging. Hence, hemodynamic and serum cardiac markers may provide valuable information about the risk of dementia. METHODS: We provide an overview on the link between cardiac markers and cognitive function by a systematic search in five databases. Furthermore, we discuss the pathophysiological aspects of this link and highlight the pertinent clinical and public health implications. RESULTS: Increasing evidence supports the associations of hemodynamic and serum cardiac markers with accelerated cognitive decline. DISCUSSION: Hemodynamic and serum cardiac markers are closely linked with risk of cognitive impairment. This highlights the significance of the heart-brain connection in reducing the burden of dementia.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and cognitive decline in older adults at high cardiovascular risk.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are associated with cognitive impairment, which might be explained by cardiovascular diseases or risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of NT-proBNP with cognitive function and decline in older adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: We studied 5,205 men and women (mean age = 75 years) who were recruited into the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk. All participants had pre-existing cardiovascular disease or risk factors thereof. Four domains of cognitive function were tested at baseline and repeated during a follow-up period of 3.2 years. RESULTS: Participants with higher NT-proBNP (≥450ng/l) had worse baseline cognitive function, including reaction time (mean difference high vs low group = 3.07 seconds, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83 to 5.32), processing speed (-1.02 digits coded, 95% CI = -1.65 to -0.39), and immediate memory (-0.13 pictures remembered, 95% CI = -0.29 to 0.04). There was no significant difference in delayed memory (-0.14, 95% CI = -0.38 to 0.10) between the NT-proBNP groups. Participants with higher NT-proBNP had a steeper cognitive decline, including reaction time (mean annual change high vs low group = 0.60 seconds, 95% CI = 0.14 to 1.07), processing speed (-0.15 digits coded, 95% CI = -0.25 to -0.05), immediate memory (-0.05 pictures remembered, 95% CI = -0.09 to 0.00), and delayed memory (-0.05 pictures remembered, 95% CI = -0.11 to 0.01). Associations were independent of cardiovascular diseases and risks. INTERPRETATION: Higher NT-proBNP associates with worse cognitive function and steeper cognitive decline, independent of cardiovascular diseases and risks. Further studies to unravel the underlying mechanisms are warranted.

Resting heart rate, heart rate variability and functional decline in old age.

BACKGROUND: Heart rate and heart rate variability, markers of cardiac autonomic function, have been linked with cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether heart rate and heart rate variability are associated with functional status in older adults, independent of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: We obtained data from the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). A total of 5042 participants were included in the present study, and mean follow-up was 3.2 years. Heart rate and heart rate variability were derived from baseline 10-second electrocardiograms. Heart rate variability was defined as the standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN). Functional status in basic (ADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities of daily living was measured using Barthel and Lawton scales, at baseline and during follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 75.3 years. At baseline, higher heart rate was associated with worse ADL and IADL, and lower SDNN was related to worse IADL (all p values < 0.05). Participants in the highest tertile of heart rate (range 71-117 beats/min) had a 1.79-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-2.22) and 1.35-fold (95% CI 1.12-1.63) higher risk of decline in ADL and IADL, respectively (p for trend < 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Participants in the lowest tertile of SDNN (range 1.70-13.30 ms) had 1.21-fold (95% CI 1.00-1.46) and 1.25-fold (95% CI 1.05-1.48) higher risk of decline in ADL and IADL, respectively (both p for trends < 0.05). All associations were independent of sex, medications, cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities. INTERPRETATION: Higher resting heart rate and lower heart rate variability were associated with worse functional status and with higher risk of future functional decline in older adults, independent of cardiovascular disease. This study provides insight into the role of cardiac autonomic function in the development of functional decline.

Blood pressure and 10-year mortality risk in the Milan Geriatrics 75+ Cohort Study: role of functional and cognitive status.

BACKGROUND: Optimal blood pressure targets in older adults are controversial. OBJECTIVE: to investigate whether the relation of blood pressure with mortality in older adults varies by age, functional and cognitive status. DESIGN: longitudinal geriatric outpatient cohort. SETTING: Milan Geriatrics 75+ Cohort Study. SUBJECTS: One thousand five hundred and eighty-seven outpatients aged 75 years and over. METHODS: The relations of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with mortality risk were analysed using Cox proportional hazards models. Blood pressure, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were assessed at baseline. All analyses were adjusted for socio-demographic factors, co-morbidities and medications. RESULTS: One thousand and forty-six patients died during 10-year follow-up. The relationships of SBP and DBP with mortality risk were U-shaped; SBP of 165 mmHg and DBP of 85 mmHg were associated with the lowest mortality. Patients with SBP < 120 mmHg and patients with SBP 120-139 mmHg had 1.64-fold (95% confidence intervals, CI 1.21-2.23) and 1.32-fold (95% CI 1.10-1.60) higher mortality risk than patients with SBP 160-179 mmHg (P values 0.001 and 0.004, respectively). In patients with SBP below 180 mmHg, higher SBP was associated with lower mortality in patients with impaired ADL and MMSE but not in those with preserved ADL and/or MMSE (P for interaction 0.033). Age did not modify the correlation of SBP with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The correlations of SBP and DBP with mortality were U-shaped. Higher SBP is related to lower mortality in subjects with impaired ADL and MMSE. ADL and MMSE may identify older subjects who benefit from higher blood pressure.

Cognitive impairment and risk of stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cognitive impairment is linked to vascular risk factors and brain vascular pathologies. Several studies have tested whether subjects with cognitive impairment have higher risk for stroke. The aim of this study was to systematically review available evidence on the association between cognitive impairment and risk of stroke to obtain precise effect estimates of the association and to identify which cognitive domains associate most with incident stroke. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched from January 1, 1980, to October 1, 2013, without language restriction. Only prospective cohort studies were included. From each study, data on the association between cognitive impairment and stroke estimated with hazard ratios or relative risks with 95% confidence interval (CI) were extracted. For each study, risk of stroke per SD lower performance in various cognitive tests was calculated. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included, comprising 82,899 participants of whom 3043 had an incident stroke. The pooled relative risk per SD lower global cognitive performance was 1.19 (95% CI, 1.12-1.27). Each SD lower score in executive function or attention was associated with 1.14-fold (95% CI, 1.06-1.24) higher risk of stroke. Lower scores in memory were associated with 1.07-fold (95% CI, 1.02-1.12) higher risk of stroke, and lower scores in language were associated with 1.08-fold (95% CI, 1.02-1.16) higher risk of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment is associated with higher risk of stroke. The associations were not significantly different for executive function, memory, and language.

Statin treatment intensity and cerebral vasomotor reactivity response in patients with ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral vasomotor reactivity (VMR) is vital for regulating brain blood flow and maintaining neurological function. Impaired cerebral VMR is linked to a higher risk of stroke and poor post-stroke outcomes. This study explores the relationship between statin treatment intensity and VMR in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Seventy-four consecutive patients (mean age 69.3 years, 59.4% male) with recent ischemic stroke were included. VMR levels were assessed 4 weeks after the index stroke using transcranial Doppler, measuring the breath-holding index (BHI) as an indicator of the percentage increase in middle cerebral artery blood flow (higher BHI signifies higher VMR). Multistep multivariable regression models, adjusted for demographic and cerebrovascular risk factors, were employed to examine the association between statin intensity treatment and BHI levels. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (55%) received high-intensity statins. Patients receiving high-intensity statins exhibited a mean BHI of 0.85, whereas those on low-intensity statins had a mean BHI of 0.67 (mean difference 0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.13-0.22, p-value<.001). This significant difference persisted in the fully adjusted model (adjusted mean values: 0.84 vs. 0.68, p-value: .008). No significant differences were observed in BHI values within patient groups on high-intensity or low-intensity statin therapy (all p-values>.05). Furthermore, no significant association was found between baseline low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and BHI. CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity statin treatment post-ischemic stroke is linked to elevated VMR independent of demographic and clinical characteristics, including baseline LDL level. Further research is needed to explore statin therapy's impact on preserving brain vascular function beyond lipid-lowering effects.

Transcranial doppler (TCD) in predicting outcomes following successful mechanical thrombectomy of large vessel occlusions in anterior circulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a non-invasive, bedside tool that allows for real-time monitoring of the patient's hemodynamic status following mechanical thrombectomy (MT). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the predictive value of TCD parameters following successful MT (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b-3). METHODS: In July 2024, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, to identify observational studies in which TCD parameters were measured within 48 hours of MT. Using random-effects models, we compared four TCD parameters (mean flow velocity (MFV), MFV index, pulsatility index (PI), and peak systolic velocity (PSV) among groups with vs without hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and favorable vs poor functional recovery (modified Rankin Scale 0-2 vs 3-6). RESULTS: Eleven studies comprising 1432 patients (59% male; mean age range: 63-73 years) were included. The MFV and MFV index were higher in patients with HT (Hedges' g=0.42 and 0.54, P=0.015 and 0.005, respectively). Patients with MFV index ≥1.3 showed a higher risk of all HT (RR 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28 to 3.03, P=0.002), symptomatic HT (RR 4.68; 95% CI 1.49 to 14.65, P=0.008), and poor functional status at 90 days (RR 1.65; 95% CI 1.27 to 2.14, P=0.029), respectively. There was no difference in mean PSV (P=0.1) and PI (P=0.3) among groups with and without HT. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the prognostic value of the MFV index in predicting HT, symptomatic HT, and poor functional recovery after successful MT in the anterior circulation. Large-scale, multi-center studies are necessary to confirm these findings and to validate the MFV index as a reliable predictor for improving post-thrombectomy care.

Framingham stroke risk score and cognitive impairment for predicting first-time stroke in the oldest old.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Predictive value of the conventional risk factors for stroke attenuates with age. Cognitive impairment has been implicated as a potential predictor for stroke in older subjects. Our aim was to compare the Framingham stroke risk score with cognitive functioning for predicting first-time stroke in a cohort of the oldest old individuals. METHODS: We included 480 subjects, aged 85 years, from the Leiden 85-plus Study. At baseline, data on the Framingham stroke risk score and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score were obtained. Risk of first-time stroke was estimated in tertiles of Framingham and MMSE scores. Receiver operating characteristic curves with corresponding areas under the curves (AUCs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were constructed for both Framingham and MMSE scores. RESULTS: Subjects with high Framingham risk score compared with those with low Framingham risk score did not have a higher risk of stroke (hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.39-1.54). Conversely, subjects with high levels of cognitive impairment compared with those with low levels of cognitive impairment had a higher risk of stroke (hazard ratio, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.48-5.51). In contrast to the Framingham risk score (AUCs, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.40-0.56), MMSE score had discriminative power to predict stroke (AUCs, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.57-0.72). There was a significant difference between AUCs for Framingham risk score and MMSE score (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: In the oldest old, the Framingham stroke risk score is not predictive for first-time stroke. In contrast, cognitive impairment, as assessed by MMSE score, identifies subjects at higher risk for stroke.

High blood pressure, physical and cognitive function, and risk of stroke in the oldest old: the Leiden 85-plus Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidemiological studies have shown mixed findings on the association between hypertension and stroke in the oldest old. Heterogeneity of the populations under study may underlie variation in outcomes. We examined whether the level of physical and cognitive function moderates the association between blood pressure and stroke. METHODS: We included 513 subjects aged 85 years old from the population-based Leiden 85-plus Study. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure were measured at baseline. Activities of daily living and Mini-Mental State Examination were assessed to estimate level of physical and cognitive function, respectively. Five-year risk of stroke was estimated with Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: In the entire cohort, there were no associations between various measures of blood pressure and risk of stroke except for the inverse relation between pulse pressure and stroke risk (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66-0.98]). Among subjects with impaired physical functioning, higher systolic blood pressure (HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.59-0.92]), mean arterial pressure (HR: 0.68 [95% CI, 0.47-0.97]), and pulse pressure (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.55-0.93]) were associated with reduced risk of stroke. Likewise, among subjects with impaired cognitive functioning, higher systolic blood pressure was associated with reduced risk of stroke (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.65-0.98]). In subjects with unimpaired cognitive functioning, higher diastolic blood pressure (HR: 1.98 [95% CI, 1.21-3.22]) and mean arterial pressure (HR, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.08-2.68]) were associated with higher risk of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that impaired physical and cognitive function moderates the association between blood pressure and stroke.

The Burden of Dementia Spectrum Disorders and Associated Comorbid and Demographic Features.

Dementia spectrum disorders (DSDs) are a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide. DSDs encompass a large group of medical conditions that all ultimately lead to major functional and cognitive decline and disability. Demographic and comorbid conditions that are associated with DSDs have significant prognostic and preventive implications. In this article, we will discuss the global and regional burden of DSDs and cover key demographic and clinical conditions linked with DSDs. In the absence of disease-modifying treatments, the role of primary prevention has become more prominent. Implementation of preventive measures requires an understanding of predisposing and exacerbating factors.

Diffusion-Restricted Lesions of the Splenium: Clinical Presentation, Radiographic Patterns, and Patient Outcomes.

Background and Objectives: Diffusion-restricted (DR) lesions of the splenium are encountered in a wide variety of pathologies, and their significance is often unclear. We sought to report the spectrum of clinical presentations, neuroimaging patterns, and the predictors of radiographic and clinical outcomes from DR splenial lesions. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2009, to August 1, 2020. A consecutive sample of 3,490 individuals who underwent brain MRI with reported corpus callosum lesions during the study period were evaluated for DR lesions in the corpus callosum. DR lesions were defined as increased signal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging sequences with decreased signal intensity on apparent diffusion coefficient. Patients with prior neurosurgical procedures, hemorrhage-associated DR, anoxic brain injury, and chronic or previously known or characterized disease processes in the corpus callosum were excluded. Clinical and radiologic outcomes were ascertained, including readmissions within 1 year, in-hospital mortality rates, and resolution of DR at first follow-up imaging. Outcomes were defined a priori. Results: Two hundred patients met criteria for inclusion. The average age was 57 years (standard deviation 19 years). Near half of the patients were women (47%). Encephalopathy (55%), focal weakness (46.5%), and cortical signs (44%) were the most common presenting clinical features. Thirty-five cases (17.5%) had features consistent with cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCCs). Vascular causes were most frequent (61%), followed by malignancy-related (15%) and trauma (8%). In-hospital mortality occurred in 8.5% of cases, 46.5% were readmitted to the hospital within 1 year, and 49.1% of patients had resolution of the splenial DR at the next scan. Backward stepwise regression models showed that mass effect was negatively associated with splenial DR resolution (odds ratio [OR]: 0.12, confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.46, p = 0.002). Encephalopathy was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (OR: 4.50, CI 1.48-17.95, p = 0.007). Patients with a CLOCC had less frequent readmissions at 1-year compared with patients without a CLOCC, p = 0.015. Discussion: Vascular DR lesions of the splenium were more common than CLOCCs and other etiologies in this cohort. While splenial DR lesions can present a clinical challenge, their associated clinical and radiographic characteristics may predict outcome and guide prognosis.

The role of population-level preventive care for brain health in ageing.

Over the past several decades, a worldwide demographic transition has led to an increasing number of older adults with chronic neurological conditions. These conditions, which have a profound effect on the cognitive function and physical ability of older adults, also have a long preclinical phase. This feature provides a unique opportunity to implement preventive measures for high-risk groups and the population as a whole, and therefore to reduce the burden of neurological diseases. The concept of brain health has emerged as the overarching theme to define overall brain function independently of underlying pathophysiological processes. We review the concept of brain health from the ageing and preventive care perspectives, discuss the mechanisms underpinning ageing and brain ageing, highlight the interplay of various forces resulting in deviation from brain health towards brain disease, and provide an overview of strategies to promote brain health with a life-course approach.

Diffusion Restriction in the Splenium: A Comparative Study of Cytotoxic Lesions of the Corpus Callosum (CLOCCs) versus Lesions of Vascular Etiology.

Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCCs) have broad differential diagnoses. Differentiating these lesions from lesions of vascular etiology is of high clinical significance. We compared the clinical and radiological characteristics and outcomes between vascular splenial lesions and CLOCCs in a retrospective cohort study. We examined the clinical and radiologic characteristics and outcomes in 155 patients with diffusion restriction in the splenium of the corpus callosum. Patients with lesions attributed to a vascular etiology (N = 124) were older (64.1 vs. 34.6 years old, p < 0.001) and had >1 vascular risk factor (91.1% vs. 45.2%, p < 0.001), higher LDL and A1c levels, and echocardiographic abnormalities (all p ≤ 0.05). CLOCCs (N = 31) more commonly had midline splenial involvement (p < 0.001) with only splenial diffusion restriction (p < 0.001), whereas vascular etiology lesions were more likely to have multifocal areas of diffusion restriction (p = 0.002). The rate of in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with vascular etiology lesions (p = 0.04). Across vascular etiology lesions, cardio-embolism was the most frequent stroke mechanism (29.8%). Our study shows that corpus callosum diffusion restricted lesions of vascular etiology and CLOCCs are associated with different baseline, clinical, and radiological characteristics and outcomes. Accurately differentiating these lesions is important for appropriate treatment and secondary prevention.