“Arteriosclerotic Dementia” Redux?

Does atherosclerosis increase the risk specifically for Alzheimer disease (AD), or for dementia in the elderly? In this study, researchers prospectively examined 6647 people over age 55 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for evidence of atherosclerosis. They measured common carotid intima-media thickness and counted carotid plaques with ultrasound, and measured ankle-brachial blood pressure index to identify peripheral vascular disease. A score summing these three measurements (0–3) indicated vascular disease severity. The researchers screened participants for dementia and assessed progression of atherosclerosis, measured at three examinations approximately 3 years apart (mean total follow-up, 9 years). They excluded participants who had clinic…