title: Biological correlates of adult cognition: midlife in the United States (MIDUS).
abstract: Multiple biological processes are related to cognitive impairment in older adults, but their combined impact on cognition in midlife is not known. Using an array of measurements across key regulatory physiological systems and a state-of-the-art cognition battery that is sensitive to early changes, in a large, national sample of middle-aged and older adults, we examined the associations of individual biological systems and a combined, multi-system index, allostatic load, with cognitive performance. Allostatic load was strongly inversely associated with performance in both episodic memory and executive function. Of 7 biological systems, only the cardiovascular system was associated inversely with both; inflammation was associated inversely with episodic memory only, and glucose metabolism with executive function only. The associations of allostatic load with cognition were not different by age, suggesting that the implications of high allostatic load on cognitive functioning are not restricted to older adults. Findings suggest that a multi-system score, like allostatic load, may assist in the early identification of adults at increased risk for cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: University of California at Los Angeles, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: akarlamangla@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Arun S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Karlamangla
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller-Martinez
authors.forename: Margie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lachman
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tun
authors.forename: Brandon K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Koretz
authors.forename: Teresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Seeman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D052636:Allostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose
keywords: Adult cognition; Allostatic load; Dysregulated physiology; Inflammation