The study examines associations between cognitive functioning and three cardiovascular risk factors: 1) high blood pressure; 2) high total plasma homocysteine (tHcy), and 3) ApoE e4 genotype. These associations are examined cross-sectionally as well as longitudinally, using data collected at a follow-up visit of members of a cohort that has been followed for the past 18-19 years. Longitudinal data are used to examine both current and change in cognitive functioning. Some analyses are prospective (e.g., high blood pressure and change in cognitive functioning), while others are cross-sectional (e.g., ApoE e4 and current cognitive functioning) or retrospective (e.g., tHcy and change in cognitive functioning). Structural equation models are used to examine cross-sectional data in elucidating a general theoretical model. Two-stage growth curve analyses and survival analyses are appropriate methods for analyzing the longitudinal data. The study includes a very comprehensive set of measures that have already been collected or will be collected during the follow-up visit. All potential confounders of the association between the three target predictor variables and the various domains of cognitive functioning appear to have been included in this design.