Abstract
Cognitive function is a vital quality of life indicator, and acquired deficits can inhibit independent living in older adults. Substantial evidence shows that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors promote decrements in cognitive function, mediated by vascular brain changes; however, less research has aimed to identify the earliest predictors of vascular-related brain and cognitive decrements. Moreover, few researchers have sufficiently examined cardiometabolic risk factors and health behaviors and their relationship to cognitive function in the context of race-related health disparities. This symposium seeks to address these limitations through four substudies within the Healthy Heart and Mind Study, a cross-sectional study that assesses relations among subclinical CVD risk factors, brain, and cognition among a diverse sample of older adults without clinical disease, as well as assesses the contributions of cardiometabolic risk factors and health behaviors. The first presentation offers an overview of the study, including study aims, study methods, recruitment strategies, and sample characteristics. The second presentation reports findings on a novel examination of the relationship between a subclinical marker of vascular health, endothelial function, and brain volumes. The third presentation examines direct and interactive associations among measures of carotid atherosclerosis (carotid intima-media thickness [IMT]), sociodemographic factors and cognitive function. The fourth presentation reports findings on the relationship between BMI and cognitive performance, with a focus on age as a potential moderator. The final presentation examines whether self-reported sleep (latency, duration, and quality) relates to cognitive function and whether this relationship is moderated by race.