Calcified carotid artery atheromas in individuals with cognitive dysfunction

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this case-control study was to investigate whether cognitively impaired individuals have a higher burden of calcified carotid artery atheroma (CCAA) than controls without cognitive impairment.

Material and methods

The study included 154 cases with Alzheimer’s disease (n = 52), mild cognitive impairment (n = 51), or subjective cognitive decline (n = 51) diagnosed at a university memory clinic. Seventy-six cognitively healthy controls were sampled through the Swedish population register. All participants underwent clinical oral and panoramic radiographic examinations. Two oral and maxillofacial radiologists performed blinded analyses of the panoramic radiographs for signs of CCAA, which was registered as absent or present and, if present, unilateral or bilateral. Consensus assessment was used for all statistical analyses.

Results

CCAA was common (40%) in this middle-aged and older Swedish population. We found no differences in the prevalence of CCAA between cases and controls (40% vs. 42%).

Conclusion

Cognitively impaired patients do not have a higher burden of CCAA than matched controls without cognitive impairment.

Keywords:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• cardiovascular disease
• cognitive disorders
• dentistry
• panoramic radiography

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Stockholm County Council (Steering Committee KI/SLL for odontological research), the Swedish Dental Society and the Swedish Patent Revenue Fund for Research in Preventive Odontology.