Knopman DS, et al. - In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, researchers assessed the interplay between midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognitive function with later life mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia (DEM) via evaluating cardiovascular risk factors and cognition in midlife (45-64 years of age). They noted an association of midlife diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia with late-life MCI and DEM in 5,995 study participants with complete covariate data. In addition, low midlife cognition function was correlated with a greater likelihood of late-life MCI or DEM. Later life MCI and DEM were independently related to midlife vascular risk factors and midlife cognition.