Contribution of Components of Metabolic Syndrome to Cognitive Performance in Middle-Aged Adults.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with impaired cognition in different cognitive domains. This study investigated the association between MetS and cognitive functioning in middle-aged Bulgarians across different definitions of MetS severity.

Material And Methods: Our cross-sectional sample included 112 participants (67 free of MetS and 45 with MetS) with a mean age of 50.

A feasibility study on the association between residential greenness and neurocognitive function in middle-aged Bulgarians.

Recent research has indicated that exposure to residential vegetation ("greenness") may be protective against cognitive decline and may support the integrity of the corresponding brain structures. However, not much is known about these effects, especially in less affluent countries and in middle-aged populations. In this study, we investigated the associations between greenness and neurocognitive function.

Cortisol Correlates with Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters in Middle Aged Bulgarian Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Background: There is a dose-dependent relationship between chronically increased cortisol levels and the number of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. Both cortisol and MetS are linked to various brain abnormalities.

Aim: To investigate an association of MetS components and salivary cortisol levels with cortical thickness in middle-aged Bulgarian patients with MetS.

Vascular Risk Factors in Bulgarian Volunteers in Middle Adulthood.

The present study in Bulgarian volunteers aged 45-55 years focuses on the type and frequency of some vascular risk factors (VRF); it analyzes physical data and results of instrumental investigations (ophthalmoscopy, electrocardiography, Doppler sonography) as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study participants have neither subjective memory complaints nor previous cerebrovascular and cardiovascular incidents. The neurological examination and the mental status is normal and VRF are not considered to aff ect their normal daily living.

Metabolic syndrome severity score: range and associations with cardiovascular risk factors.

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome Severity Score (MSSS) is a new clinical prediction rule (CPR) for diagnostic and therapeutic decisions and employs available components (sex, age, race, systolic blood pressure, waistline circumference, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides and fasting blood glucose). The aim of our work was to perform cross-sectional pilot trial on middle-aged healthy volunteers and patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for studying feasibility and implementation of MSSS and its associations with cardiovascular risk factors.

Material And Methods: We approached 64 eligible participants from Bulgaria.

Early neurological and cognitive impairments in subclinical cerebrovascular disease.

Background: The subclinical cerebrovascular disease (SCVD) is an important public health problem with demonstrated prognostic significance for stroke, future cognitive decline, and progression to dementia. The earliest possible detection of the silent presence of SCVD in adults at age at risk with normal functioning is very important for both clinical doctors and scientists.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-seven adult volunteers, recruited during the years 2005-2007, with mean age 58.