Relation between central adiposity and cognitive function in the Maine-Syracuse Study: attenuation by physical activity.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between central adiposity and cognitive function. However, only some of these studies have adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease, and none have also adjusted for physical activity level.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to examine the association between anthropometric measures of central adiposity (waist circumference and waist/hip ratio) and cognitive functioning with adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors and physical activity.


METHODS
Participants were 917 stroke- and dementia-free community-dwelling adults (59% women) in the Maine-Syracuse Study. The design was cross-sectional. Outcome measures included tests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, the Wechsler Memory Scale Revised, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.


RESULTS
Waist circumference and waist/hip ratio were inversely related to multiple cognitive domains with adjustment for age, education, gender, and number of prior exams. For example, a 20-cm increment in waist circumference was associated with a 0.14 SD decrement in the Global Composite score. These relations were attenuated with adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, with further adjustment for physical activity level, only waist circumference remained significantly associated with performance on the Similarities test.


CONCLUSIONS
Waist circumference and waist/hip ratio are inversely related to cognitive function. Measures of central adiposity predict cognitive function independently of associated cardiovascular risk factors and events; however, the association between central adiposity and cognitive function is attenuated, to a large extent, by adjustment for physical activity level. Physical activity is an important covariate in studies relating measures of central adiposity to cognition.
Dore
Gregory A
GA
Department of Psychology, University of Maine, 5742 Little Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5742, USA. gregory.dore@maine.edu
Elias
Merrill F
MF
Robbins
Michael A
MA
Budge
Marc M
MM
Elias
Penelope K
PK
D050153:Abdominal Fat; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003071:Cognition; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008281:Maine; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012307:Risk Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio