Research Article

Associations between stroke risk and cognition in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease with and without depression

  1. Katherine J. Bangen1,
  2. Lisa Delano-Wood2,3,
  3. Christina E. Wierenga3,
  4. Ashley McCauley2,
  5. Dilip V. Jeste3,4,5,
  6. David P. Salmon4,
  7. Mark W. Bondi3,5,*

Article first published online: 23 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/gps.2317

Issue

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

Volume 25, Issue 2, pages 175–182, February 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Bangen, K. J., Delano-Wood, L., Wierenga, C. E., McCauley, A., Jeste, D. V., Salmon, D. P. and Bondi, M. W. (2010), Associations between stroke risk and cognition in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease with and without depression. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25: 175–182. doi: 10.1002/gps.2317

Author Information

  1. 1

    San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA

  2. 2

    Veterans Medical Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

  4. 4

    Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

  5. 5

    VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA

*Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 JAN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 23 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 21 APR 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 2 DEC 2008

Funded by

  • National Institutes of Health. Grant Numbers: F31 NS059193 [KJB], P50 AG05131 [MWB, DPS], K24 AG026431, RO1 AG012674
  • Alzheimer's Association [MWB]. Grant Number: IIRG-07-59343

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Keywords:

  • Alzheimer's disease;
  • depression;
  • stroke risk;
  • apolipoprotein E;
  • cognition

Abstract

Background

Stroke risk factors have been increasingly implicated in the development of age-related cognitive decline, the spectrum of vascular cognitive impairment, and, more recently, Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, depression and the apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 allele have been reported to influence the association between stroke risk and cognition. However, few studies have described the relations among stroke risk, cognition, and APOE genotype in AD, and the findings have been equivocal.

Methods

Thirty cognitively normal older adults, 30 AD patients with depression, and 30 AD patients without depression were administered a comprehensive neuropsychological battery measuring several domains including memory, attention, language, visuospatial skills, executive functions, and speed of information processing. The Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP), a validated scale that was developed to predict 10-year probability of stroke, was used to quantify stroke risk burden.

Results

AD patients with depression demonstrated greater stroke risk burden relative to the cognitively normal group and, across all participants, increased stroke risk was associated with poorer performance on memory and processing speed measures. Moreover, stroke risk accurately predicted AD diagnosis. Notably, there were no significant differences in stroke risk or cognitive performance between the AD participants with depression and those without depression.

Conclusion

Given that many markers of stroke risk are modifiable or treatable, our findings have implications for assessment, prevention, and treatment of cognitive decline. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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