Work

Association between peripheral platelet markers and motoric cognitive risk syndrome: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the WCHAT study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between peripheral platelet indices and motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR). DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study. SETTING: Community settings across several ethnically diverse regions of western China. PARTICIPANTS: From an initial pool of 7536 community-dwelling adults in the WCHAT study, 4080 participants were included in the final analysis after applying exclusion criteria. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was MCR, defined by the concurrent presence of subjective cognitive complaints and slow gait speed (≥1 SD below sex- and age-stratified mean) in the absence of dementia or mobility disability. The exposures were platelet indices, including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) and platelet crit (PCT). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations between platelet indices and MCR. Restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to explore non-linear associations. RESULTS: Among the 4080 participants, 320 (7.84%) met the diagnostic criteria for MCR. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher PLT (OR=1.17, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.32, p=0.007) and PCT (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.26, p=0.046) were associated with greater odds of MCR. Conversely, higher PDW (OR=0.85, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.97, p=0.014) and P-LCR (OR=0.87, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.98, p=0.026) were associated with lower odds of MCR. Furthermore, a nonlinear relationship was identified for PDW and MCR (p<0.05), with a threshold at 13.40%. CONCLUSIONS: Specific platelet indices are significantly associated with MCR. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these associations and explore the underlying mechanisms. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: China Clinical Trial Center (ChiCTR1800018895).

Source: BMJ Open

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-115160