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The Association between Homocysteine, Arterial Stiffness and Executive Function Middle-age and Older Women

Artery Research volume 27, pages 32–37 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Age-related decreases in executive function and an increase in arterial stiffness and plasma homocysteine levels are related to the risk of dementia. However, the association between executive function, arterial stiffness, and homocysteine levels remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between executive function, arterial stiffness, and plasma homocysteine in 82 middle-aged and older women. The Stroop interference time, Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV), and plasma homocysteine concentration were collected. The correlation analyses revealed that the Stroop interference time was significantly correlated with plasma homocysteine (r = 0.40, p < 0.001) and baPWV (r = 0.38, p = 0.001). In addition, plasma homocysteine levels were significantly correlated with baPWV (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). In the mediated analyses, the plasma homocysteine level directly (β = 0.24; p = 0.037) and indirectly (β = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [0.007, 0.238]) affected the Stroop interference time. These results suggest that higher plasma homocysteine levels are associated with a decline in executive function mediated by higher artery stiffness in middle-aged and older women.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Ai Shindo-Hamasaki

    Present address: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tsukuba International University, 6-8-33, Manabe, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan

  2. Nobuhiko Akazawa

    Present address: Department of Sports Research, Japan Institute of Sport Sciences, 3-15-1 Nishigaoka, Kitaku, Tokyo, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Ibaraki, Japan

    Ai Shindo-Hamasaki, Nobuhiko Akazawa, Reiko Momma & Seiji Maeda

Authors
  1. Ai Shindo-Hamasaki
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  2. Nobuhiko Akazawa
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  3. Reiko Momma
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  4. Seiji Maeda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seiji Maeda.

Additional information

Peer review under responsibility of the Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology

Data availability statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, SM, upon reasonable request.

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Shindo-Hamasaki, A., Akazawa, N., Momma, R. et al. The Association between Homocysteine, Arterial Stiffness and Executive Function Middle-age and Older Women. Artery Res 27, 32–37 (2021). https://doi.org/10.2991/artres.k.201102.003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/artres.k.201102.003

Keywords

Artery Research

ISSN: 1876-4401

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