Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):53-58 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8574

Atherosclerosis and dementia development: an epidemiological case-control study

Veronika Koutná¹, Ladislav Štěpánek¹, Martina Kovalová^{2, 3, 4}, Ondřej Machaczka^{2, 3}, Petr Ambroz^{2, 3}, Anna Zatloukalová^{2, 3}, Eva Mrázková⁴, Michal Bar⁵, Martin Roubec^{5, 6}, Petra Bártová⁵, Richard Novobilský^{5, 6}, Martin Sabela^{5, 6}, Pavlína Kušnierová^{7, 8}, David Stejskal^{7, 8}, Lucie Faldynová⁹, Sylwia Walczysková⁹, Lukáš Školoudík^{10, 11}, Libor Šimůnek¹¹, Petra Šolínová¹¹, David Školoudík¹², Jana Janoutová¹, Vladimír Janout¹

¹ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic

² Science and Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic

³ Department of Healthcare Management and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic

⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

⁵ Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

⁶ Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

⁷ Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

⁸ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

⁹ Department of Clinical and Molecular Pathology and Medical Genetics, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

¹⁰ Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

¹¹ University Hospital Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

¹² Centre for Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

Objectives: With increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of atherosclerosis and dementia is expected to rise in the future and as such represents a public health threat. This study focused on analysis of atherosclerosis risk factors and the protective factors of leisure-time activities in the development of dementia.

Methods: The sample comprised 1,298 participants that were selected from university hospitals and outpatient clinics between 2019-2023. All participants completed a questionnaire and medical data were obtained. We used logistic regression to identify dementia risk factors and we also compared the leisure-time protective factors between four groups based on the presence of atherosclerosis and/or dementia.

Results: Hypercholesterolemia (aOR = 3.25, p > 0.001), stroke (aOR = 1.43, p = 0.015), and carotid stenosis (aOR = 2.23, p > 0.001) were significantly associated with risk of dementia whereas age (aOR = 0.93, p < 0.001) and female gender (aOR = 0.70, p = 0.012) were negatively associated. The model of these factors demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability of AUC 0.737 (95% CI: 0.702-0.769). Higher education levels and regular cognitive and physical activities such as reading and exercise had positive effects against dementia.

Conclusion: These findings accentuate the importance of cardiovascular health in reducing risk of dementia. Preventive strategies targeting hypercholesterolemia, carotid stenosis and inactivity, along with promotion of cognitive engagement and education, could substantially reduce the global burden of dementia.

Klíčová slova: cognitive decline, dementia, epidemiology, public health, prevention, atherosclerosis

Vloženo: 27. únor 2025; Revidováno: 30. září 2025; Přijato: 30. září 2025; Zveřejněno: 31. březen 2026  Zobrazit citaci