Work

Adiposity and Cognitive Decline in the Cardiovascular Health Study

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Studies relating adiposity to cognition in the elderly show conflicting results, which may be explained by the choice of adiposity measures. Thus, we studied the longitudinal associations of different adiposity measures, fat mass by bioelectrical impedance analysis, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), with cognitive performance in the Cardiovascular Health Study. METHODS: Cognitive performance was assessed with the modified Mini-Mental State Examination, the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, and a composite of both. We used linear mixed models to estimate rates of change in cognitive function scores associated with adiposity measured at baseline. RESULTS: The final sample was comprised of 2,681 women (57.9%) and 1,949 men (42.1%) aged 73 ± 5.2 and 73.9 ± 5.6 years, respectively. Adiposity was associated with slower cognitive decline in most analyses. Results were similar for fat mass, BMI and WC. Higher fat-free mass was also related to slower cognitive decline. Results were similar in analyses excluding persons with cancer, smokers, and persons with short follow-up, poor self-reported health, or persons with cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Higher adiposity and higher fat-free mass in the elderly was related to better cognitive performance. This finding was not explained by confounding by preexisting conditions.

Source: Neuroepidemiology

DOI: 10.1159/000345136

Authors: José A. Luchsinger, Mary L. Biggs, Jorge R. Kizer, Joshua Barzilay, Annette Fitzpatrick, Anne Newman, William T. Longstreth, Oscar Lopez, David Siscovick, Lewis Kuller

Institutions: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, University of Washington, Yeshiva University, Weill Cornell Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, University of Pittsburgh

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, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Awards: G1220223050, CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND STROKE, CORONARY HEART DISEASE &STROKE IN PEOPLE AGED 65-84, CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND STROKE, G1727292203, CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND STROKE IN PEOPLE AGED 65-84, G2194386449, CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND STROKE IN PEOPLE AGED 65-84, CORONARY HEART DISEASE &STROKE IN PEOPLE AGED 65-84, G236442059, COLUMBIA CENTER FOR HEALTH OF URBAN MINORITIES (CHUM), G2391884931, Exceptional Survival: Trajectories to Functional Aging (CHS All Stars), Epidemiology of Dementia In An Urban Community, CORONARY HEART DISEASE &STROKE IN THE ELDERLY, G274585943, G277826483, G2800149121, G3045517347, Pilot Trial of Metformin in Amnestic MCI, CENTRAL BLOOD ANALYSIS LABORATORY FOR CHS, Predictors of Alheimers Disease in Mild Cognitive Impairment, G423252844, G4617276643, G5479317095, G573134505, G581887176, CHS Events Follow-up Study, G61834786, G6226795708, Predictors of Alzheimers Disease in Mild Cognitive Impairment, CHS-Transition Phase, G7176672723, CHS RETINAL READING CENTER, Exceptional Survival: Trajectories to Functional Aging (CHS All Stars), G777822606, CHS Events Follow-up Study, G7999488110, G8402048158, COGNITIVE TESTS, APOE, BRAIN MRI AND RISKS OF DEMENTIA, Hormonal trajectories in aging, G905887895

OpenAlex ID: W2089166721

FWCI: 2.124

Cites: 39

Cited by: 48

Related to: 10