ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A429 CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN A MIDDLE-AGED COHORT FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION: THE AKERSHUS CARDIAC EXAMINATION (ACE) 1950 STUDY

Abstract Background and aims Pulsatility index (PI) and mean velocity flow (MVF) in the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), measured by transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCD) through the transtemporal window, have been reported to be altered in individuals with cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate whether cerebral blood flow parameters are associated with cognitive test performance in a middle-aged birth cohort without known cognitive impairment. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the visit of the Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 study (2012-2015). All inhabitants born in 1950 and residing in Akershus County, Norway, were invited; 3706 (attendance rate 64%) participated. Of these, 2920 completed both TCD examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Delayed recall, and Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B. Test scores were analyzed individually and combined into a dichotomized outcome (normal/abnormal) based on the z-scores. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations. Results Mean age (SD) was 63.9 (0.64) years, and 42.8% were women. The mean MVF was 38.3 (11.2) cm/s, and the mean PI was 0.97 (0.17). The mean MoCA score was 25.3±2.8, mean TMT B time was 96.6 ±49.9 seconds, and 1620 (55.5%) scored ≥-1,5 SD below the Norwegian age-adjusted norm on at least one cognitive test. No significant associations were found between MFV or PI and cognitive test scores or the combined cognitive outcome (Figure 1). Conclusions In a middle-aged cohort from the general population, TCD-derived PI and MVF were not associated with cognitive test performance. Conflict of interest Nothing to disclose Figure 1 - belongs to Results