Central obesity, leptin and cognitive decline: the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging.
OBJECTIVE
Central obesity is a risk factor for cognitive decline. Leptin is secreted by adipose tissue and has been associated with better cognitive function. Aging Mexican Americans have higher levels of obesity than non-Hispanic Whites, but no investigations examined the relationship between leptin and cognitive decline among them or the role of central obesity in this association.


METHODS
We analyzed 1,480 dementia-free older Mexican Americans who were followed over 10 years. Cognitive function was assessed every 12-15 months with the Modified Mini Mental State Exam (3MSE) and the Spanish and English Verbal Learning Test (SEVLT).


RESULTS
For females with a small waist circumference (≤35 inches), an interquartile range difference in leptin was associated with 35% less 3MSE errors and 22% less decline in the SEVLT score over 10 years. For males with a small waist circumference (≤40 inches), an interquartile range difference in leptin was associated with 44% less 3MSE errors and 30% less decline in the SEVLT score over 10 years. There was no association between leptin and cognitive decline among females or males with a large waist circumference.


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin interacts with central obesity in shaping cognitive decline. Our findings provide valuable information about the effects of metabolic risk factors on cognitive function.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, USA. Adina.zekialhazzouri@ucsf.edu
Adina
A
Zeki Al Hazzouri
Mary N
MN
Haan
Rachel A
RA
Whitmer
Kristine
K
Yaffe
John
J
Neuhaus
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
D020738:Leptin