title: Metabolic and endocrine correlates of cognitive function in healthy young women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity has been associated with cognitive decline in longitudinal studies of older individuals. We hypothesized that the cognitive sequelae of obesity may be detectable in the reproductive years. In addition, we explored the hypothesis that these associations may be mediated by the hormonal milieu.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 49 young healthy lean and overweight women aged 20-45, we investigated the association between performance on a battery of cognitive tests, body composition parameters [body mass index, total fat, abdominal (visceral, subcutaneous, and total) adipose tissue, and muscle], and hormone levels (insulin, adiponectin, leptin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), estrogen, testosterone, and vitamin D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant negative association between both visceral adiposity and muscle, and performance in the domain of verbal learning and memory, after controlling for age and education. Other body composition parameters showed similar trends (0.05 < P < 0.10). Additionally, the degree of insulin resistance was negatively associated with executive function domain. None of the associations between the other hormones examined (adipokines, IGF-1, gonadal hormones, and vitamin D) and cognitive function were significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary findings suggest a possible association between obesity and cognitive function in healthy young women of reproductive age. More research is warranted into the potential modulatory effect of insulin resistance on this association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. rbove@partners.org
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brick
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gerweck
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bredella
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D004967:Estrogens; D007328:Insulin; D014807:Vitamin D; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I