Associations Between Vascular Risk Across Adulthood and Brain Pathology in Late Life Evidence From a British Birth Cohort

摘要

Question When is vascular risk during adulthood (early adulthood, midlife, or late life) most strongly associated with late-life brain structure and pathology? Findings In a propective cohort of 463 participants free of dementia from the population-based Insight 46 study, higher vascular risk in early adulthood was most strongly associated with smaller whole-brain volumes and greater white matter-hyperintensity volumes at age 69 to 71 years. There were no associations at any age with amyloid status. Meaning These findings are consistent with vascular risk influencing late-life brain health via cerebral small-vessel disease and lower brain volumes but not amyloidosis; vascular risk screening and modification may need to be considered from early adulthood.