Background: This study aimed to examine the association between the American Heart Association's (AHA) newly revised Life's Essential 8 (LE8) algorithm, designed for assessing cardiovascular health (CVH), and cognitive impairment among older adults in the United States.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design, utilizing data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to explore the relationship between CVH and cognitive impairment in older adults. CVH scores are assessed based on the AHA definition of the LE8, categorized into three tiers: low (0-49), medium (50-79), and high (80-100). Cognitive impairment is evaluated using three distinct scoring systems: the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), the Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). The lowest quartile as the cut-off point; below or equal to the lower quartile was considered as low cognitive population, and above the lower quartile was normal population. To analyze the association, multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were employed.

Results: A significant negative correlation exists between the LE8 and cognitive impairment. After adjusting for multiple variables, the odds ratios (OR) for cognitive impairment, as measured by the CERAD, AFT, and DSST, were compared between patients with high and low CVH. The results indicated OR values of 0.60 (95% CI: 0.36-0.98), 0.72 (95% CI: 0.52-0.97), and 0.29 (95% CI: 0.16-0.53) for the CERAD, AFT, and DSST, respectively. Additionally, the RCS curve demonstrated a significant linear relationship between lifestyle factors encapsulated by the LE8 and cognitive impairment.

Conclusions: The findings indicate higher adherence to LE8 was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment. Furthermore, maintaining optimal CVH is crucial in preventing cognitive impairment.