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Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cognitive Function in African Americans

^a Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center
^b Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Shari R. Waldstein, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 E-mail: waldstei{at}umbc.edu.

Decision Editor: Margie E. Lachman, PhD

The present study examined the cross-sectional association of medically determined cardiovascular risk factors with cognitive function in 43 African Americans (aged 43–82 yr; 83% women). Measures of attention, memory, and executive functions were evaluated in relation to blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fitness level (peak O₂). Multiple regression analyses with age, education, number of antihypertensive medications, HbA1c, diastolic BP, and peak O₂ as predictors revealed significant (and marginally significant) associations between lower levels of fitness (peak O₂) and poorer executive functions and delayed verbal memory. Antihypertensive medications were associated with poorer attention, but better delayed verbal memory. In addition, greater levels of HbA1c were positively related to attention. These results suggest that cardiovascular risk factors are important predictors of cognitive function among middle-aged and older African Americans.

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