title: Metabolic syndrome and cognitive function: a population-based follow-up study in elderly women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that metabolic syndrome predicts cognitive impairment, and to examine the association of single metabolic risk factors with cognitive functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a 12-year follow-up study in a population-based sample of 101 women aged 60-70 years at baseline. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria (> or =3 out of 5 risk factors). Global cognitive function was measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination both at baseline and follow-up. A detailed neuropsychological evaluation for memory and cognitive speed was performed at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased from 13% at baseline to 49% at follow-up (p < 0.001). Women with metabolic syndrome at baseline had a 4.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-17.90; p = 0.047) times higher risk of poor memory at follow-up after adjustment for age, education and depression. The increasing number of metabolic risk factors was associated with worsening of memory at follow-up (p = 0.034 for linear trend). Women with low baseline levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were more likely to have poor memory at follow-up than those with higher HDL levels (p = 0.028). The risk of having poor memory increased by 46.5% (95% confidence interval: 15-66%; p = 0.008) with 1 SD decrease in HDL cholesterol level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In elderly women, metabolic syndrome may be an important contributor to worsening of memory, which is an essential part of mild cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. Pirjo.Komulainen@uku.fi
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Komulainen
authors.forename: Timo A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lakka
authors.forename: Miia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivipelto
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassinen
authors.forename: Eeva-Liisa
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Helkala
authors.forename: Irja
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Haapala
authors.forename: Aulikki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nissinen
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rauramaa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol