Ventricular Repolarization is Associated with Cognitive Function, but Not with Cognitive Decline and Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Measurements in Older Adults

Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 9, pp. 911

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of electrocardiogram (ECG)-based QT, QTc, JT, JTc, and QRS intervals with cognitive function and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in a cohort of older individuals at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, but free of known arrhythmias. We studied 4627 participants (54% female, mean age 75 years) enrolled in the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). Ten-second ECGs were conducted at baseline. Cognitive function was tested at baseline and repeated during a mean follow-up time of 3.2 years. Structural MRIs were conducted in a subgroup of 535 participants. Analyses were performed with multivariable (repeated) linear regression models and adjusted for cardiovascular risk-factors, co-morbidities, and cardiovascular drug use. At baseline, longer QT, JT, JTc-but not QTc and QRS intervals-were associated with a worse cognitive performance. Most notably, on the Stroop Test, participants performed 3.02 (95% CI 0.31; 5.73) seconds worse per standard deviation higher QT interval, independent of cardiovascular risk factors and medication use. There was no association between longer ventricular de- or repolarization and structural brain measurements. Therefore, specifically ventricular repolarization was associated with worse cognitive performance in older individuals at baseline but not during follow-up.

Authors 8

1. Michelle H. Zonneveld Aachen Department of Internal Medicine Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Raymond Noordam corresponding Aachen Department of Internal Medicine Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Jeroen van der Grond Aachen Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Behnam Sabayan

   Northwestern University

   Affiliation as printed

   Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

5. Simon P. Mooijaart Aachen Department of Internal Medicine Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

6. Peter W. Mcfarlane

   University of Glasgow

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK

7. J. Wouter Jukema Aachen Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

8. Stella Trompet Aachen Department of Internal Medicine Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands