Work

Relationship Between Mean Corpuscular Volume and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and cognitive performance over time. DESIGN: Longitudinal. SETTING: Sample from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred twenty-seven participants from the BLSA (mean age 67, range 50-96). MEASUREMENTS: Mean corpuscular volume and several other blood indices were measured, including hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, white blood cell count, albumin, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Cognitive performance was examined using neuropsychological measures of visual memory, verbal memory, language, attention, executive function, and global mental status. RESULTS: High MCV levels were significantly associated with lower global mental status even after adjusting for potential confounders. High MCV levels were also significantly associated with high rates of decline on tasks of global mental status, long delay memory, and attention, even after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: The findings confirm a previous observation that larger erythrocytes in older adults are associated with poorer cognitive function. Anemia and inflammation do not appear to explain the relationship between MCV and cognition. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms behind this association.

Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

DOI: 10.1111/jgs.12066

Authors: Alyssa A. Gamaldo, Luigi Ferrucci, Joseph Rifkind, Dan L. Longo, Alan B. Zonderman

Institution: National Institute on Aging

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging