Unravelling the Link Between Body Mass Index and Cognitive Performance in Individuals With Bipolar Disorder and Exploration of PRS Moderation Effect: Findings From the PsyCourse Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder characterized by extreme mood swings, often accompanied by metabolic comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, which increase mortality and reduce quality of life. Both metabolic dysfunctions and BD are associated with cognitive dysfunction. Body mass index (BMI) is closely linked to metabolic health and cognitive performance. This study examined the link between BMI and cognitive function in individuals with BD and how genetic factors, namely polygenic risk scores (PRS) for BD and BMI, might influence this link. METHODS: Genetic (PRS scores) and phenotypic data (sociodemographic factors, clinical symptoms and cognitive function) of 341 adult patients with BD diagnosis from the PsyCourse Study, a large, multi-site, and naturalistic longitudinal study, were utilized for this study. First, we performed univariate and multivariate regression analyses to investigate associations between BMI and cognitive performance. Second, moderation analyses were conducted to examine the potential moderator effects of BD-PRS or BMI-PRS in the relationship between BMI and different cognitive outcomes. RESULTS: BMI was associated with processing speed (TMT-A) and executive function (TMT-B), with individuals with higher BMI showing poorer performance. Moderation analyses revealed that the effect of BMI on cognition was moderated by BD-PRS only regarding the processing speed. BMI-PRS did not moderate the association between BMI and cognitive variables. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the relationship between BMI and cognitive impairment in BD is partially moderated by BD genetic liability but not by BMI genetic load.
Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
DOI: 10.1111/acps.70028
Authors: B. Solé, L. Montejo, M. Budde, M. Valentí, R. Borràs, S. Martín‐Parra, A. Ruiz, A. Martínez‐Aran, K. Adorjan, M. Heilbronner, A. Navarro‐Flores, M. Oraki Kohshour, D. Reich‐Erkelenz, E. C. Schulte, F. Senner, I. G. Anghelescu, V. Arolt, B. T. Baune, U. Dannlowski, D. E. Dietrich, A. J. Fallgatter, C. Figge, G. Juckel, C. Konrad, J. Reimer, E. Z. Reininghaus, M. Schmauß, C. Spitzer, J. Wiltfang, J. Zimmermann, P. Falkai, E. Vieta, T. G. Schulze, C. Torrent, U. Heilbronner, S. Papiol
Institutions: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer, Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, LMU Klinikum, Institut für Psychiatrische Phänomik und Genomik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universitat de Barcelona, University of Bern, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit, Zentrum für Psychiatrie Südwürttemberg, University of Münster, The University of Melbourne, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, University of Tübingen, University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum, LWL-Universitätsklinikum Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Agaplesion Diakonieklinikum Rotenburg, Klinikum Itzehoe, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, University of Graz, Medical University of Graz, University of Augsburg, Bezirkskrankenhaus Augsburg, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, University of Rostock, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, University of Aveiro, University of Göttingen, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4413869255