Ankle-Brachial Index but Neither Intima Media Thickness Nor Coronary Artery Calcification is Associated With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: Several studies have reported an association of atherosclerosis with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia independent of cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: To compare the cross-sectional association of the ankle-brachial index (ABI), intima media thickness (IMT), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) with MCI and its subtypes, amnestic MCI (aMCI) and non-amnestic MCI (naMCI) in the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study.

Methods: 4,086 participants performed a validated brief cognitive assessment at the first follow-up examination (2006-2008).