Basal ganglia calcifications: No association with cognitive function - 19/02/22

Doi : 10.1016/j.neurad.2022.02.001

Esther JM de Brouwer ^a,^b,^⁎ , Nienke MS Golüke ^a,^b, Jules J Claus ^c, Salka S Staekenborg ^c, Mariëlle H Emmelot-Vonk ^a, Pim A de Jong ^d, Huiberdina L Koek ^a, Annemarieke De Jonghe ^b
^a University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Department of Geriatrics, Utrecht, the Netherlands
^b Tergooi Medical Center, Department of Geriatrics, Blaricum, the Netherlands
^c Tergooi Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Blaricum, the Netherlands
^d University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Department of Radiology, Utrecht, the Netherlands

^⁎Corresponding author at: University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Geriatrics, Room B05.2.25, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands.University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of GeriatricsRoom B05.2.25, PO Box 85500GA Utrecht3508the Netherlands

Sous presse. Épreuves corrigées par l'auteur. Disponible en ligne depuis le Saturday 19 February 2022
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Highlights

•	Basal ganglia calcifications were found in 43.5% of patients at a memory clinic.
•	Female gender was associated with the presence of basal ganglia calcification.
•	Basal ganglia calcification was inversely associated with hypertension.
•	No association was found between basal ganglia calcification and cognitive function.

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Abstract

Background and purpose

Basal ganglia calcifications (BGC), a form of vascular calcification, are a common brain computed tomography (CT) finding. We investigated whether BGC are associated with cognitive function and examined the association between vascular risk factors and BGC.

Material and methods

Patients who visited a memory clinic of a Dutch general hospital between April 2009 and April 2015 were included. The patients underwent a standard diagnostic work up including cognitive tests (Cambridge Cognitive Examination, including the Mini Mental State Examination) and brain CT. Vascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and smoking were assessed. CTs were analyzed for presence and severity (absent, mild, moderate or severe) of BGC. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for BGC and linear regression for the association between BGC and cognitive function.

Results

Of the 1992 patients, 40.3% was male. The median age was 80 years and 866 patients (43.5%) had BGC. BGC was associated with female gender (odds ratio (OR) 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.53, p 0.011), and inversely associated with hypertension (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60–0.89, p 0.002) and use of antihypertensive drugs (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64–0.98, p 0.031). No association was found between presence and severity of BGC and cognitive function or other vascular risk factors.

Conclusions

No association with cognitive function was found. Risk factors for BGC were female gender, while hypertension and antihypertensive drug use were associated with a lower risk of BGC.

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