Metabolic syndrome and cognitive function in healthy middle-aged and older adults without diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have addressed whether the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components are associated with cognitive function in middle-aged and older populations, as well as whether specific areas of cognition are more affected than others. We examined the cross-sectional association between MetS and six areas of cognitive function in healthy cognitively intact adults without diabetes (n = 853, mean age 61 years) randomized in two intervention trials.


METHODS
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria were used to identify subjects with MetS. Cognitive function was assessed with a neuropsychological battery. A principal components analysis was used to extract five uncorrelated factors interpreted to represent five areas of cognition, and a measure of global cognition was calculated.


RESULTS
MetS was weakly but non-significantly associated with lower verbal learning (beta = -.14 [SE(beta) = 0.09], p = .15). As the number of MetS criteria increased, scores on global cognition (p trend = .01), verbal learning (p trend = .06) and semantic memory (p trend = .04) decreased. Hypertension was the only MetS risk factor that was independently correlated with lower verbal learning (beta = -.17 [SE(beta) = 0.08], p = .04), semantic memory (beta = -.26 [SE(beta) = 0.08], p = .001) and global cognition (beta = -.15 [SE(beta) = 0.07], p = .04).


CONCLUSIONS
This study adds to the evidence of an association between MetS and lower cognitive function among healthy middle-aged and older adults without CVD and diabetes, as well as confirms the correlation between hypertension and lower cognition.
Gatto
Nicole M
NM
Department of Preventive Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9010, USA.
Henderson
Victor W
VW
St John
Jan A
JA
McCleary
Carol
C
Hodis
Howard N
HN
Mack
Wendy J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000523:psychology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D045730:Soy Foods; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
D007529:Isoflavones; D014280:Triglycerides; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D002784:Cholesterol