Biomedical/Physiologic Factors

This section lists the biomedical and physiologic variables that have been used as predictors of cognitive health in large-scale studies. The Summary of Epidemiologic Findings provides a listing of studies that have used and/or reviewed these biologic variables in relation to cognitive health.

FACTORS

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risk Factors

High blood pressure
Dyslipidemia
Overweight and obesity
Diabetes
Metabolic syndrome
Coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis
Stroke and stroke risk
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Smoking

Inflammatory and Hemostatic Factors

C-reactive protein
Interleukin-6
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha
Fibrinogen
Fibrin D-dimer
Albumin

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Hormonal Factors

Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis)

Cortisol
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

Sympathetic nervous system

Norepinephrine
Epinephrine

Sex hormones

Endogenous estrogen, testosterone
Postmenopausal hormone therapy

Allostatic Load

Dietary Factors

B vitamins and homocysteine

Antioxidant vitamins

Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Beta-carotene

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-6 fatty acids

Alcohol use

Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Pulmonary Function

Renal Function

Brain Structure and Function

CT
MRI
PET

Genetics

Apolipoprotein E gene
Other genes