Reaction time and mortality from the major causes of death: the NHANES-III study.
OBJECTIVE
Studies examining the relation of information processing speed, as measured by reaction time, with mortality are scarce. We explored these associations in a representative sample of the US population.


METHODS
Participants were 5,134 adults (2,342 men) aged 20-59 years from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-94).


RESULTS
Adjusted for age, sex, and ethnic minority status, a 1 SD slower reaction time was associated with a raised risk of mortality from all-causes (HR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.12, 1.39) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.17, 1.58). Having 1 SD more variable reaction time was also associated with greater risk of all-cause (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.19, 1.55) and CVD (HR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.33, 1.70) mortality. No associations were observed for cancer mortality. The magnitude of the relationships was comparable in size to established risk factors in this dataset, such as smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Alongside better-established risk factors, reaction time is associated with increased risk of premature death and cardiovascular disease. It is a candidate risk factor for all-cause and cause-specific mortality.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom.
Gareth
G
Hagger-Johnson
Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Ian J
IJ
Deary
Medical Research Council (MRC)/Chief Scientist Office (CSO) Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Carolyn A
CA
Davies
Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Alexander
A
Weiss
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom ; Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
G David
GD
Batty
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011930:Reaction Time; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D001741:Black or African American