BDNF is a novel marker of cognitive function in ageing women: the DR's EXTRA Study.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the key molecules modulating brain plasticity. While low circulating levels of BDNF have been suggested to predispose to Alzheimer's disease, very little data are available on its association with cognitive function in general population. We evaluated the association between plasma BDNF levels and cognition in a representative population sample of ageing men and women.

Chronotropic incompetence and mortality in middle-aged men with known or suspected coronary heart disease.

Aims: The objective is to study whether a heart rate (HR) increase from 40 to 100% of maximal work capacity in the exercise test (HR40-100) independently predicts mortality in men with known or suspected coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods And Results: The subjects were 294 men, 42-61 years of age, from eastern Finland with known or suspected CHD but without use of HR-lowering medication at baseline. HR was measured at rest and during a maximal, symptom-limited exercise test.

Usefulness of chronotropic incompetence in response to exercise as a predictor of myocardial infarction in middle-aged men without cardiovascular disease.

An attenuated heart rate (HR) response to exercise, or chronotropic incompetence, has been shown to predict adverse cardiac events in subjects without known cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether chronotropic incompetence independently predicts acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in middle-aged men. In addition to previously established chronotropic incompetence variables, we focused on a new chronotropic incompetence variable, the HR increase from 40% to 100% of maximal work capacity (HR40-100), as a predictor of AMI.

Effectiveness of workload at the heart rate of 100 beats/min in predicting cardiovascular mortality in men aged 42, 48, 54, or 60 years at baseline.

The magnitude of work an individual is able to perform at the heart rate (HR) of 100 beats/min (WL(100)) is a simple, integrated measure of HR at rest, HR response to light dynamic exercise, as well as cardiorespiratory performance. Because a high HR at rest and a low cardiorespiratory performance are previously established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, it can be deduced that WL(100) is a potential predictor of CVD and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether WL(100) independently predicts CVD and CHD mortality in middle-aged men.

Heart rate response during exercise test and cardiovascular mortality in middle-aged men.

Aims: The objective is to study whether a heart rate (HR) response during exercise test independently predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

Methods And Results: The subjects were a representative sample of 1378 men, 42-61 years of age, from eastern Finland with neither prior coronary heart disease (CHD) nor use of beta-blockers at baseline. HR was measured at rest and during a maximal, symptom-limited exercise test at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% of maximal workload.