title: Metabolic syndrome, cognitive performance, and dementia.
abstract: Obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance have been associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment or dementia. Together, these risk factors cluster as metabolic syndrome (MetS). The first aim of this systematic review was to identify and critically review studies assessing associations between MetS and cognition, with consideration given both to early cognitive changes and the severe endpoint of dementia. The second aim was to identify and discuss limitations in the literature and subsequent difficulties in drawing conclusions from research to date. Nine studies that assessed cognitive performance and ten studies that estimated incidence of dementia in relation to MetS were identified and appraised. Limitations in the literature include the lack of standardized nomenclature for cognitive variables, the use of multiple MetS definitions, and the difficulty in differentiating the adverse effects of multiple risk factors on cognition.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. whige003@mymail.unisa.edu.au
authors.forename: Georgina E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Crichton
authors.forename: Merrill F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frisardi
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors