title: The metabolic syndrome and cognitive decline in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (ARIC).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Midlife metabolic syndrome (MetS) may impact cognitive health as a construct independently of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and other components.
  
  
  METHODS
  10,866 participants aged 45-64 years at baseline were assessed for MetS and completed cognitive testing at two later time points (3 and 9 years from the baseline visit).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MetS is associated with increased odds of low cognitive performance in the domains of executive function and word fluency, but not with 6-year cognitive decline. Individual MetS components explained this association (hypertension, diabetes, low HDL, elevated triglycerides and increased waist circumference).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A focus on the individual risk factors as opposed to MetS during midlife is important to reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment in later life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md., USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dearborn
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knopman
authors.forename: A Richey
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sharrett
authors.forename: Andrea L C
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Clifford R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jack
authors.forename: Laura H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Selvin
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mosley
authors.forename: Lynne E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Wagenknecht
authors.forename: Beverly G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Windham
authors.forename: Rebecca F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Gottesman
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors