Table 1 Characteristics of the predictors in the study sample (n = 4793)

Demographics

Age (years)* ⁺

76 (6)

0%

Sex (female)* ⁺

2822 (59%)

0%

Education (college + university)

1392 (29%)

6%

Neuroimaging variables

Log-transformed white matter lesion volume (ml)*

13.5 (2.5)

18%

Hippocampal volume (ml)*

5.6 (0.7)

17%

Number of microbleeds*

0.3 (1.6)

17%

Presence of infarcts

1491 (31%)

16%

Gray matter volume (ml)*

676 (63)

18%

Intracranial volume (ml)*

1501 (148)

18%

Clinical variables

Abdominal circumference (cm)

101 (12)

1%

Carotid intima-media thickness test (CIMT)

1 (0.1)

10%

High-density lipoprotein (mmol/L)

1.6 (0.5)

< 1%

Low-density lipoprotein (mmol/L)

3.5 (1.0)

< 1%

Triglycerides (mmol/L)

1.2 (0.7)

< 1%

Fasting glucose (mmol/L)

5.8 (1.2)

< 1%

B-hemoglobin A1c (g/dl)

0.5 (0.1)

8%

High-sensitive c-reactive protein (mg/L)

3.8 (6.7)

< 1%

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

142 (21)

1%

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)

74 (10)

1%

Hypertension

3855 (80%)

1%

Coronary artery disease

842 (18%)

0%

Diabetes mellitus

591 (12%)

0%

Metabolic syndrome

1499 (31%)

1%

Stroke/blood clot in the brain

297 (6%)

2%

History of cancer

753 (16%)

1%

Experienced a head trauma or lost consciousness

416 (9%)

5%

Subjective memory decline*⁺

1431 (30%)

3%

Often forget the names of a friend

1522 (32%)

5%

Often forget where items are*⁺

2083 (44%)

5%

Difficulty finding the right words

1517 (32%)

5%

Difficulty finding the way to familiar places*⁺

385 (8%)

5%

Inability in managing money*⁺

132 (3%)

4%

Inability in dressing oneself*⁺

29 (1%)

6%

Intermit claudication in legs

227 (5%)

5%

Insomnia

1438 (30%)

3%

Poor health status

276 (6%)

1%

ADL score, full dependence on all items*⁺

52 (1%)

6%

Morning salivary cortisol (nmol/L)

19.8 (13.3)

9%

Evening salivary cortisol (nmol/L)

3.8 (6.6)

9%

GDS-15 sum score*⁺

2.3 (2.1)

6%

All anxiety questions ‘yes’

40 (1%)

1%

Diagnosis of current GAD, social phobia, panic disorder, or agoraphobia

98 (2%)

5%

Current/past diagnosis of major depressive disorder

248 (5%)

5%

Medication use

Benzodiazepines

396 (8%)

0%

Beta-adrenergic blockers

1660 (35%)

0%

Glucocorticoids

171 (4%)

0%

Psycholeptics

818 (17%)

0%

Anti-depressants

662 (14%)

0%

Lifestyle variables

Current smoker, %

582 (12%)

4%

Alcohol consumption (g/week)

16 (33)

4%

Moderate/high physical activity

1509 (31%)

7%

Mental leisure activity (days per month)

7 (6)

6%

Social leisure activity (days per month)

4 (4)

6%

Single marital status, %

288 (6%)

6%

Number of close friends

4 (4)

6%

Not that easy to walk 2 km*⁺

960 (20%)

27%

Not that easy to walk 500 m*⁺

233 (5%)

27%

Number of living close relatives

7 (4)

6%

Never fish consumption, %

26 (1%)

6%

Cognitive assessment

MMSE total score*⁺

27 (3)

1%

Outcome

Incident dementia

892 (19%)

0%

Follow-up time (years)

9 (3)

0%