Atherosclerosis and dementia: a cross-sectional study with pathological analysis of the carotid arteries.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous ultrasound-based studies have shown an association between carotid artery atherosclerosis and dementia. Our aim was to investigate this association using postmortem examination. METHODS Postmortem morphometric measurements of carotid stenosis and intima-media thickness were performed in individuals with dementia (n=112) and control subjects (n=577). Multivariate logistic regression models were applied. RESULTS High-grade left internal carotid stenosis (≥70%) was associated with increased odds for dementia (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.14-4.74; P=0.02). Intima-media thickness was not associated with dementia. CONCLUSIONS The likelihood of dementia is increased with high-grade left internal carotid artery atherosclerosis after adjusting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors.