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Carolina Restrepo

The effect of vascular risk factors in dementia onset

Portrait of Carolina Restrepo
  • Award

    2012 AADRF Top-Up Scholarship

  • Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    1 January 2013

About the project

This study investigated the effect of vascular risk factors on brain functioning in a group of elderly participants with no memory difficulties. The results of the analysis suggest that older adults with risk factors for cardiovascular disease perform more poorly in tests that measure brain function, compared to elderly participants without any vascular risk factors. This difference was identified on specific cognitive functions, such as inhibition, information processing speed and visuospatial skills, but not on verbal memory or language. The participants were followed for a 54-month period and the results showed that individuals with vascular risk factors exhibited a greater decline over time on the aforementioned cognitive tests. 

Finally, the study also found that the magnitude of cognitive decline for individuals with three or more vascular risk factors was higher than that measured for those with two or less vascular risk factors. An important application of this work stems from the fact that the vascular risk factors found as having an effect on brain functioning can be reduced through lifestyle changes, such as physical exercise, controlling body weight or reducing smoking. Consequently, the relationship between the presence of vascular risk factors and cognition identified in this study suggests that living a healthier lifestyle can promote brain health.

Ms Restrepo's research project focuses on understanding the relationship between the presence of risk factors for vascular disease and brain functioning. The motivation for this study comes from the significant growth in the incidence of both dementia and vascular disease around the world. Vascular risk factors have been linked to cognitive decline in the elderly in a number of studies. Importantly, some of these studies have reported that the higher the number of vascular risk factors presented in an individual, the higher the risk of cognitive decline. Within this context, this study aims to investigate if individuals with vascular risk factors perform more poorly in cognitive tests relative to those without these risk factors. In addition, we want to understand if cognitive decline over time is faster in those individuals with vascular risk factors and if the number of vascular risk factors increases cognitive deterioration. 

An important aspect about this work is that some of the vascular risk factors that affect cognition can be reduced through lifestyle changes, such as physical exercise, controlling body weight or reducing smoking. This means that, if there is a relationship between the presence of vascular risk factors and cognition, living a healthier lifestyle can protect brain health.

Publications and presentations resulting from award

C. Restrepo, Saling, M. and Ellis, K. A. (2010) “Continuum of Aging Casualty” Early Detection of Dementia and The Role of Protective and Risk Factors. Colombian Neurological Act, 26 Sup 3 p. 52-58

C. Restrepo Michael Saling, Paul A. Yates, Victor L. Villemagne, David Ames, Noel Faux, Ralph N. Martins, Colin L Masters, Christopher C. Rowe, Cassandra Szoeke, Kathryn A. Ellis, and For the AIBL research group. Assessment of Cognitive Status in a Sample of the Elderly Community with Vascular Risk Factors. SOBR Student Symposium. Melbourne, October 2011. Poster Presentation

C. Restrepo, M. Saling, P. A. Yates, V. L. Villemagne, D. Ames, A. I. Bush, N. Faux, R. N. Martins, C. L. Masters, C. C. Rowe, C. Szoeke, and K. A. Ellis, and For the AIBL research group. The Effect of Vascular Risk Factors on Cognition in Older Adults: Data From The AIBL Study. AAIC Oral Presentation; Vancouver, July 2012.

C. Restrepo, M. Saling, P. A. Yates, V. L. Villemagne, D. Ames, A. I. Bush, N. Faux, R. N. Martins, C. L. Masters, C. C. Rowe, C. Szoeke, and K. A. Ellis, and For the AIBL research group. The Effect of Vascular Risk Factors on Cognition In Older Adults: Data From The AIBL Study. CCN Postgraduate Research Symposium. 2nd Place Presentation Award; Melbourne, September 2012.

Restrepo C, Saling MM, Ames D, Bush AI, Faux NG, Martins R, Maruff P, Masters CL, Rowe CC, Szoeke C, Villemagne VL, Yates PA, Ellis KA, and the AIBL research group. The Effect of Vascular Risk Factors on the Rate of Cognitive Change in Older Adults: Data from the Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) Flagship Study. Poster Presentation; Boston, July 2013

Restrepo C, Saling MM, Ames D, Bush AI, Faux NG, Martins R, Maruff P, Masters CL, Rowe CC, Szoeke C, Villemagne VL, Yates PA, Ellis KA, and the AIBL research group. The Effect of Vascular Risk Factors on the Rate of Cognitive Change in Older Adults: Data from the Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) Flagship Study. Poster Presentation; SOBR Student Symposium. 1st Prize Poster Presentation (psychology and psychiatry). Melbourne, October 2013.

Where are they now?

Ms Restrepo is currently completing her Masters/PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology at The University of Melbourne.

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Last updated
3 January 2024