By Kat Procyk
Extracranial carotid artery calcification (ECAC) is a known risk factor for the development of both cardiovascular diseases and neurological conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
However, the relationship between ECAC and amyloid beta (Aβ), protein clumps that can pile together in the brain and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, isn’t fully understood.
In a study using 90 participants older than 85 and without dementia, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and School of Public Health found that there was no statistically significant association between ECAC and amyloid beta deposition.
“Most participants in this age group had plaque in their neck arteries, and about half showed signs of amyloid beta buildup in the brain,” said Jiatong (Carol) Li, clinical research coordinator, School of Public Health. “Those with ECAC were less likely to have amyloid beta buildup compared to those without, though the difference was not statistically significant. Overall, the odds of amyloid beta positivity were 62 percent lower in individuals with ECAC, but this finding may have been due to chance.”
The study, “Relationship between extracranial carotid artery calcification and β-amyloid deposition in the brain among the very old: a retrospective study,” was published by the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Report, in July 2025.