Total atherosclerotic burden measured by magnetic resonance imaging is related to five‐year decline in cognitive function

Summary Objective The aim of this study was to explore whether total atherosclerotic burden is related to future decline in performance on cognitive tests. Methods The total atherosclerotic burden ( TAS ) was assessed by whole‐body magnetic resonance angiography ( WBMRA ) in 305 subjects at age 70 in the study Prospective Investigation of Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors ( PIVUS ). The mini‐mental state examination ( MMSE ) and trail making tests ( TMT ) A and B were evaluated at ages 75 and 80 in 190 of those subjects. No subject with a diagnosis of dementia was included in the sample. Results MMSE did not change during the 5 years of follow‐up, while TMT A and B increased by 4 and 7 s, respectively. TAS at age 70 was significantly related to the individual change in TMT B ( P <0·0001) between age 75 and 80, when adjusted for sex, education level, TMT B at age 75 and Framingham score at age 70. No such relationship was seen for the change in TMT A ( P  = 0·10). The relationship between TAS and the change in MMSE was of borderline significance ( P  = 0·025). Conclusion A relationship was found between the total atherosclerotic burden and future decline in performance on TMT B, highlighting a role of global atherosclerosis in the cognitive decline seen during ageing.