Orthostatic and Standing Hypertension and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Orthostatic hypertension is an emerging risk factor for adverse events. Recent consensus statements combine an increase in blood pressure upon standing with standing hypertension, but whether these 2 components have similar risk associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unknown.

Methods: The ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) measured supine and standing blood pressure during visit 1 (1987-1989).

Standing Blood Pressure and Risk of Falls, Syncope, Coronary Heart Disease, and Mortality.

Background: ACC/AHA guidelines caution against the use of antihypertensive therapy in the setting of low standing systolic BP (SBP) < 110 mm Hg due to unclear benefits.

Methods: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study measured supine and standing SBP in adults aged 45-64 years between 1987 and 1989. We used Cox regression to evaluate the associations of low standing SBP (<110 mm Hg) with risk of falls, syncope, coronary heart disease (CHD), and mortality through December 31, 2019.

Spousal Cognitive Status and Risk for Declining Cognitive Function and Dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

We investigated the relationship between the cognitive status of participants' spouses and participants' own cognitive outcomes, controlling for mid-life factors. Participants ( = 1845; baseline age 66-90 years) from the prospective Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study were followed from 2011 to 2019. We used linear regression and Cox proportional hazard models to estimate whether spouses of people with MCI/dementia had lower cognitive functioning and elevated risk of incident dementia.

Endurance and gait speed relationships with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Introduction: Slower mobility is associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. We examined the interaction of endurance with gait speed on prevalent MCI and dementia.

Methods: Cross-sectional multinomial regression in the ARIC cohort (n = 2844 participants; 71 to 94 years; 44% men; 18% Black persons) with cognitive status (normal/MCI/dementia), 4 m gait speed, and endurance (2 minute walk [2MW]).

Association Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Incident Dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study.

Background: Abnormal thyroid hormone levels (high or low) and autoimmunity from autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) may increase dementia risk.

Methods: We examined the associations of thyroid dysfunction or possible AITD in 1990 - 1992 with dementia through 2017 in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Neurocognitive Study. Thyroid dysfunction (subclinical and overt hypo- or hyperthyroidism and euthyroidism) was categorized from serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) cut-points and AITD from anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibody positivity.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Silent Brain Infarctions in a Biracial Cohort: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Background: Both hypertensive and atherosclerotic processes contribute to common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT). Elevated CCA-IMT may be indicative of subclinical cerebrovascular disease; however, its role in the absence of concomitant carotid artery plaque is uncertain, and few studies have examined associations in Black populations.

Materials And Methods: At cohort visit 3 (1993-1995) a subset of stroke-free participants (641 Blacks and 702 Whites, mean age 63) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study was imaged by brain MRI and carotid ultrasound.

Genetic variants associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease contribute to cognitive change in midlife: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by impairment in memory, behavioral changes, and gradual loss of autonomy. Since there is a long latent period prior to diagnosis, the aim of this study was to determine whether twenty single nucleotide polymorphisms identified in genome-wide association analyses of AD are associated with cognitive change in 8,320 white and 2,039 African-American middle-aged adults enrolled in the prospective Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Cognition was evaluated using the Delayed Word Recall Test (DWRT; verbal memory), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST; processing speed), and Word Fluency Test (WFT; executive function).

Cardiovascular Dysfunction and Frailty Among Older Adults in the Community: The ARIC Study.

Background: The contribution of cardiovascular dysfunction to frailty in older adults is uncertain. This study aimed to define the relationship between frailty and cardiovascular structure and function, and determine whether these associations are independent of coexisting abnormalities in other organ systems.

Methods: We studied 3,991 older adults (mean age 75.

Orthostatic Hypotension in Middle-Age and Risk of Falls.

Background: One-third of older adults fall each year. Orthostatic hypotension (OH) has been hypothesized as an important risk factor for falls, but findings from prior studies have been inconsistent.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of the association between baseline OH (1987-1989) and risk of falls in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Diabetes, hyperglycemia, and the burden of functional disability among older adults in a community-based study.

Background: There is a need for continued surveillance of diabetes-related functional disability. In the present study, we examined associations between diabetes, hyperglycemia, and the burden of functional disability in a community-based population.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 5035 participants who attended Visit 5 (2011-13) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.

Physical Function, Hyperuricemia, and Gout in Older Adults.

Objective: Gout prevalence is high in older adults and those affected are at risk of physical disability, yet it is unclear whether they have worse physical function.

Methods: We studied gout, hyperuricemia, and physical function in 5,819 older adults (age ≥65 years) attending the 2011-2013 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study visit, a prospective US population-based cohort. Differences in lower extremity function (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB] and 4-meter walking speed) and upper extremity function (grip strength) by gout status and by hyperuricemia prevalence were estimated in adjusted ordinal logistic regression (SPPB) and linear regression (walking speed and grip strength) models.

Impaired vision and the ability to take medications.

Objectives: To assess relationships between vision (contrast sensitivity, stereopsis, visual acuity) and a performance-based measure of ability to implement new medications.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis; prospective cohort study.

Setting: Community-based.