ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Aging Neurosci.
Sec. Neurocognitive Aging and Behavior
NORRISK 2 score is associated with dementia and MCI - The HUNT Study
Silje Kleven 1,2
Linda Ernstsen 3,4
Marte Kvello-Alme 5,6
Stian Lydersen 7
Geir Selbæk 8,9,10
Rannveig Sakshaug Eldholm 11,2
1. Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Heath Science, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
2. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim, Norway
3. Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
4. Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim, Norway
5. Department of Psychiatry, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger, Norway
6. Department of Neurology, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger Hospital, Levanger, Norway
7. Department of Mental Health, Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
8. Vestfold Hospital Trust, The Norwegian National Centre for Aging and Health, Tønsberg, Norway
9. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
10. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
11. Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are associated with the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Composite CVD risk scores integrate multiple risk factors and may capture the cumulative burden of CVD risk relevant to cognitive outcomes. However, the long-term association between established CVD risk scores and subsequent dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and potential differences in these associations between males and females, remains insufficiently studied. This study examined the association between NORRISK 2, a CVD risk model estimating 10-year risk of fatal- and non-fatal CVD, and the presence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in males and females, after 22 years of follow-up. Methods: Participants from The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), a longitudinal, population-based health study, were included. NORRISK 2 scores were based on data from HUNT2 (1995-1997). Cognitive status was assessed in the sub-study HUNT4 70+ (2017-2019) and categorized as cognitively unimpaired (CU), MCI, or dementia. We used multinomial logistic regression with NORRISK 2 as the predictor and cognitive status 22 years later as the main covariate. Results: The study sample consisted of 6,971 participants (57.6% females, mean age at HUNT2 56.1 years). At HUNT4 70+, 14.0% of the participants had developed dementia, and 34.6% had developed MCI. Per one percent increase in NORRISK 2 score, the relative risk of developing dementia increased by 14% for males (relative risk ratio (RRR)=1.14; 95% CI 1.12-1.17) and 28% for females (RRR=1.28; 95% CI 1.25-1.31). The relative risk of developing MCI increased by 4% for men (RRR=1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.05) and 10% for women (RRR 1.10; 95% CI 1.08-1.12). Conclusion: A higher NORRISK 2 score was associated with an increased risk of dementia and MCI in both males and females, with the strongest associations observed in females.
Summary
Keywords
Cardiovascular risk score, Dementia, Hunt, Mild Cognitive Impairment, NORRISK 2
Received
20 November 2025
Accepted
04 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Kleven, Ernstsen, Kvello-Alme, Lydersen, Selbæk and Eldholm. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Silje Kleven
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