Low-level inorganic arsenic exposure and neuropsychological functioning in American Indian elders.
Inorganic arsenic at high and prolonged doses is highly neurotoxic. Few studies have evaluated whether long-term, low-level arsenic exposure is associated with neuropsychological functioning in adults.



To investigate the association between long-term, low-level inorganic arsenic exposure and neuropsychological functioning among American Indians aged 64-95.



We assessed 928 participants in the Strong Heart Study by using data on arsenic species in urine samples collected at baseline (1989-1991) and results of standardized tests of global cognition, executive functioning, verbal learning and memory, fine motor functioning, and speed of mental processing administered during comprehensive follow-up evaluations in 2009-2013. We calculated the difference in neuropsychological functioning for a 10% increase in urinary arsenic with adjustment for sex, age, education, and study site.



The sum of inorganic and methylated arsenic species (∑As) in urine was associated with limited fine motor functioning and processing speed. A 10% increase in ∑As was associated with a .10 (95% CI -.20, -.01) decrease on the Finger Tapping Test for the dominant hand and a .13 decrease (95% CI -.21, -.04) for the non-dominant hand. Similarly, a 10% increase in ∑As was associated with a .15 (95% CI -.29, .00) decrease on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition Coding Subtest. ∑As was not associated with other neuropsychological functions.



Findings indicate an adverse association between increased urinary arsenic fine motor functioning and processing speed, but not with other neuropsychological functioning, among elderly American Indians.
Department of Ethnic Studies, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA. Electronic address: clint.carroll@colorado.edu.
Clint R
CR
Carroll
Initiative for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH), Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA.
Carolyn
C
Noonan
Department of Sociology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
Eva M
EM
Garroutte
Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Ana
A
Navas-Acien
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Steven P
SP
Verney
Initiative for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH), Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA.
Dedra
D
Buchwald
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000187:drug effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014481:United States; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects
D001151:Arsenic
American Indians; Arsenic; Low-level exposure; Neuropsychological functioning; Strong Heart Study