The association between vascular factors and subjective memory impairment in older people: The HUNT Study, Norway

Authors

  • Ellen Melbye Langballe
  • Kristian Tambs
  • Ingvild Saltvedt
  • Kristian Midthjell
  • Jostein Holmen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5324/nje.v22i2.1568

Abstract

Objectives: Subjective memory impairment (SMI) is often considered an early sign of dementia. This study investigates the relationship between SMI and dementia-related vascular factors in older people.

Method: This study was based on data from 12,255 individuals, 65 years and older, participating in the Nord-Trøndelag health study, third survey 2006-08 (HUNT3). SMI, vascular diseases, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption were self-reported. Blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) were clinically measured. SMI were predicted using linear regression analysis.

Results: Stroke and heart disease were associated with SMI. High exercise intensity was associated with less SMI. Respondents with high systolic blood pressure (SBP) reported less SMI than those with moderate SBP. In men, low SBP was associated with significantly more SMI compared to those with moderate SBP. In women, moderate alcohol consumption compared to low alcohol consumption was associated with significantly more SMI.

Conclusion: SMI was positively associated with stroke and heart disease in this study. For the other investigated vascular factors, we did not find strong relationships with SMI. However, for preventive and treatment purposes, it is noteworthy that high exercise intensity and high systolic blood pressure was associated with less SMI in both genders.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2012-11-29

How to Cite

Langballe, E. M., Tambs, K., Saltvedt, I., Midthjell, K., & Holmen, J. (2012). The association between vascular factors and subjective memory impairment in older people: The HUNT Study, Norway. Norsk Epidemiologi, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.5324/nje.v22i2.1568

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 2 (2012): Aldring og eldres helse

Section

Articles

License

Norsk Epidemiologi licenses all content of the journal under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) licence. This means, among other things, that anyone is free to copy and distribute the content, as long as they give proper credit to the author(s) and the journal. For further information, see Creative Commons website for human readable or lawyer readable versions.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).