journal articles
ASSOCIATION OF CARDIAC BIOMARKERS WITH LONGITUDINAL COGNITIVE CHANGES IN THE GENERAL POPULATION
Fang-Fei Wei, Dubo Chen, Chaoxin Xu, Zhongping Yu, Zihao Chen, Chang Chen, Xin He, JingJing Zhao, Wenqing Li, Cuiping Zhao, Jiangui He, Yugang Dong, Jan A. Staessen, Chen Liu
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the association of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with changes in cognitive performance over time.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of cardiac biomarkers with cognitive changes over time.
PARTICIPANTS: The study population consisted of 2540 stroke-free participants (56.1 % women; 21.2 % Black; mean age, 74.5 years) enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
MEASUREMENTS: Associations of the changes in the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores with the log-transformed cardiac biomarkers were modelled using multivariable linear and restricted cubic spline regression.
RESULTS: Over 6.6 years (median), the MMSE score decreased by 0.57 (95 % CI, 0.46–0.67) and the frequency of an MMSE score <24 increased from 5.339 % to 9.69 % (P < 0.001). In multivariable-adjusted models, the cardiac biomarkers measured at baseline were linearly related to absolute MMSE changes with association sizes amounting to 0.47 (0.27–0.66) and 0.58 (0.19–0.97) for NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT, respectively. Classification-by-cardiac biomarker interactions were significant for race, age group and diabetes in relation to NT-proBNP (P ≤ 0.031) and for race, age group and hypertension in relation to hs-cTnT (P ≤ 0.041). For both biomarkers, associations were stronger in Blacks than Whites and in older than younger individuals; for NT-proBNP in diabetic than non-diabetic participants; and for hs-cTnT in normotensive than hypertensive individuals.
CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT were associated with MMSE changes. Although association studies cannot prove causality, the clinical implication might be that targeting the heart within the framework of a multifactorial approach might be strategy in reducing cognitive decline.
CITATION:
Fang-Fei Wei ; Dubo Chen ; Chaoxin Xu ; Zhongping Yu ; Zihao Chen ; Chang Chen ; Xin He ; JingJing Zhao ; Wenqing Li ; Cuiping Zhao ; Jiangui He ; Yugang Dong ; Jan A. Staessen ; Chen Liu (2026): Association of cardiac biomarkers with longitudinal cognitive changes in the general population. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (JPAD). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2026.100494