Brain Age Gap May Mediate Influence of Cognitive Impairment Risk Factors
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, June 24, 2025 -- The brain age gap (BAG) plays a role in mediating the influence of cognitive impairment risk factors on cognitive function, especially among individuals with high cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) burden, according to a study published online June 18 in Neurology.
Wei Ying Tan, from the National University of Singapore and National University Health System, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the influence of cognitive impairment risk factors on cognition and how BAG mediates this relationship. The Cognitive Impairment Scoring System (CISS), encompassing 11 sociodemographic and vascular factors, was used to assess cognitive impairment risk factors. The mediation effect of BAG on the CISS-cognition relationship was examined, stratified by cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) burden (high: CeVD+; low CeVD−).
The study included 1,437 individuals without dementia, of whom 646 were in the matched sample. The researchers observed a consistent association for higher CISS with poorer cognitive performance across all domains, with the strongest negative associations seen in visuomotor speed and visuoconstruction (β = −2.70 and −3.02). BAG significantly mediated the relationship between CISS and global cognition in the CeVD+ group (proportion mediated, 19.95 percent), with the strongest mediation effects seen in executive function and language (34.1 and 26.6 percent). The relationships between CISS and memory and visuoconstruction were also mediated by BAG in the CeVD+ group (21.1 and 14.4 percent); after statistical adjustments, these effects diminished.
"Our findings suggest that accelerated brain aging may serve as an important factor linking cognitive impairment risk factors to thinking and memory skills in adults with cerebrovascular conditions," coauthor Saima Hilal, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., also from the National University of Singapore, said in a statement.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2025
Read this next
Dementia Caregivers Have Modifiable Risk Factors Increasing Their Own Risk
FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 -- Six in 10 dementia caregivers report having at least one modifiable risk factor that could increase their own chances of developing dementia, according to...
Tinnitus Linked to Impaired Cognitive Function
FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 -- Individuals with versus those without tinnitus have significantly lower scores on cognitive function tests, according to a study published online May 29...
Doctors' Preferences for Their Own End-of-Life Care? No Life-Sustaining Practices
FRIDAY, June 13, 2025 -- Many physicians would personally prefer to avoid life-sustaining practices if they had advanced cancer or Alzheimer disease, according to a study...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.