title: Association of pulmonary function with cognitive performance in early, middle and late adulthood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary function has been associated with some measures of cognitive performance, mostly in late adulthood. This study investigated whether this association is present for a range of cognitive measures, at three stages of adulthood, and whether it remains after controlling for demographic, health and lifestyle factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relationship between forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1), a measure of pulmonary function, and cognitive test performance was examined in three cohorts aged 20-24, 40-44 and 60-64.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for demographic variables, smoking, physical activity, and respiratory disease, significant associations between FEV1 and cognitive test performance were evident in each age group for most cognitive measures. The association between FEV1 and measures of speed increased with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FEV1 has a small but reliable positive association with cognitive test performance throughout adulthood, possibly reflecting a common physiological factor.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. kaarin.anstey@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Kaarin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Anstey
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Windsor
authors.forename: Anthony F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jorm
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodgers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis