Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome (MCR) is a pre-dementia syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine whether there is: 1) an association between MCR and cardiovascular diseases and risk factors (CVDRF) in the Canadian population, and 2) a specific MCR-related CVDRF profile (i.e., cardiovascular diseases (CVD) versus cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) versus both) when comparing different age groups.
A total of 29,569 participants free of dementia were recruited in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Participants were categorized into groups by their age and MCR status (with MCR versus without MCR). Overweight/obese, smoking, waist to hip circumference ratio (WHCR), systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure levels were CVRF. Diabetes type I and II, hypertension, heart disease and attack, peripheral vascular disease, angina, stroke and rhythmic disease were CVD.
A higher prevalence of CVRF in MCR was shown in the youngest age groups (i.e., 45-54 and 55-64) compared to the other age groups. MCR was positively associated with CVDRF, except in the oldest age group (i.e., ≥75). In this group, the only significant association with CVRF was with diastolic blood pressure, which was negatively associated with MCR. Diabetes and hypertension were not associated with MCR.
MCR is associated with CVDRF in both younger and older individuals. A stronger association was present for CVRF factors in younger adults and for CVD in older adults.