Abstract

PINEIRO LAMAS, Regino; FERNANDEZ-BRITTO RODRIGUEZ, José Emilio  and  GOMEZ PADRON, Ivo. Atherosclerosis and cognitive function impairment. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2012, vol.31, n.1, pp. 37-45. ISSN 0864-0300.

Atherosclerosis is a process of multicausal origin which is accompanied by a great variety of clinical and humoral manifestations. Atherogenic risk factors are well known. They include dyslipidemias, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, increased homocysteine, and others. Atherosclerosis leads to ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic renal disease, peripheral arterial disease and atherosclerotic aneurysms. As is well known, due to its close relation to the blood and the oxygen required by all cells in the body, the disease leaves an imprint in practically all organs and tissues, affecting the central nervous system and consequently the cognitive sphere as well. The atherosclerotic risk factors that may affect cognitive function are in the first place arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome, aging, increased blood homocysteine, increased fibrinogen and smoking. An updated review is conducted on the topic, which we consider to be of great interest. The review may be of use in daily medical practice.

Keywords : atherosclerosis; atherosclerosis risk factors; cognitive function.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )