title: Serum uric acid and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: Among possible markers of age-related cognitive decline, uric acid (UA) is controversial because it has antioxidant properties but is increased in diseases that often lead to cognitive impairment. In this study of 96 elderly adults, participants with mildly elevated (but normal) serum UA were 2.7 to 5.9 times more likely to score in the lowest quartile of the sample on measures of processing speed, verbal memory, and working memory. Even after controlling for age, sex, race, education, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and alcohol abuse, the multivariate-adjusted odds of poor verbal memory and working memory remained significant (ps < .05). Despite its antioxidant properties, these findings suggest that even mild elevations of UA might increase the risk of cognitive decline among older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-7218, USA. dschret@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schretlen
authors.forename: Anjeli B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Inscore
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jinnah
authors.forename: Vani
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Godfrey D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pearlson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid