Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relation Between Central Adiposity and Cognitive Function in the Maine–Syracuse Study: Attenuation by Physical Activity

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between central adiposity and cognitive function. However, only some of these studies have adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease, and none have also adjusted for physical activity level.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine the association between anthropometric measures of central adiposity (waist circumference and waist/hip ratio) and cognitive functioning with adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors and physical activity.

Methods

Participants were 917 stroke- and dementia-free community-dwelling adults (59% women) in the Maine–Syracuse Study. The design was cross-sectional. Outcome measures included tests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, the Wechsler Memory Scale Revised, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.

Results

Waist circumference and waist/hip ratio were inversely related to multiple cognitive domains with adjustment for age, education, gender, and number of prior exams. For example, a 20-cm increment in waist circumference was associated with a 0.14 SD decrement in the Global Composite score. These relations were attenuated with adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, with further adjustment for physical activity level, only waist circumference remained significantly associated with performance on the Similarities test.

Conclusions

Waist circumference and waist/hip ratio are inversely related to cognitive function. Measures of central adiposity predict cognitive function independently of associated cardiovascular risk factors and events; however, the association between central adiposity and cognitive function is attenuated, to a large extent, by adjustment for physical activity level. Physical activity is an important covariate in studies relating measures of central adiposity to cognition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Calle EE, Thun MJ, Petrelli JM, Rodriguez C, Heath CW Jr. Body-mass index and mortality in a prospective cohort of US adults. N Engl J Med. 1999; 341: 1097–1105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Cabrera MA, Gebara OC, Diament J, Nussbacher A, Rosano G, Wajngarten M. Metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular risk in elderly women. Int J Cardiol. 2007; 114: 224–229.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Jonsson S, Hedblad B, Engstrom G, Nilsson P, Berglund G, Janzon L. Influence of obesity on cardiovascular risk. Twenty-three-year follow-up of 22,025 men from an urban Swedish population. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002; 26: 1046–1053.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Grundy SM, Brewer HB Jr., Cleeman JI, Smith SC Jr., Lenfant C. Definition of metabolic syndrome: Report of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/American Heart Association conference on scientific issues related to definition. Circulation. 2004; 109: 433–438.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Elias MF, Elias PK, Sullivan LM, Wolf PA, D’Agostino RB. Lower cognitive function in the presence of obesity and hypertension: The Framingham heart study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 27: 260–268.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gunstad J, Paul RH, Cohen RA, Tate DF, Gordon E. Obesity is associated with memory deficits in young and middle-aged adults. Eat Weight Disord. 2006; 11: e15–e19.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cournot M, Marquie JC, Ansiau D, et al. Relation between body mass index and cognitive function in healthy middle-aged men and women. Neurology. 2006; 67: 1208–1214.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dixon JB, Strauss BJ, Laurie C, O’Brien PE. Smaller hip circumference is associated with dyslipidemia and the metabolic syndrome in obese women. Obes Surg. 2007; 17: 770–777.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bigaard J, Frederiksen K, Tjonneland A, et al. Waist circumference and body composition in relation to all-cause mortality in middle-aged men and women. Int J Obes. 2005; 29: 778–784.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Simpson JA, MacInnis RJ, Peeters A, Hopper JL, Giles GG, English DR. A comparison of adiposity measures as predictors of all-cause mortality: The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Obesity. 2007; 15: 994–1003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Baik I, Ascherio A, Rimm EB, et al. Adiposity and mortality in men. Am J Epidemiol. 2000; 152: 264–271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ounpuu S, et al. Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries: A case-control study. Lancet. 2005; 366: 1640–1649.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Waldstein SR, Katzel LI. Interactive relations of central versus total obesity and blood pressure to cognitive function. Int J Obes. 2006; 30: 201–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wolf PA, Beiser A, Elias MF, Au R, Vasan RS, Seshadri S. Relation of obesity to cognitive function: Importance of central obesity and synergistic influence of concomitant hypertension. The Framingham Heart Study. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2007; 4: 111–116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hillman CH, Motl RW, Pontifex MB, et al. Physical activity and cognitive function in a cross-section of younger and older community-dwelling individuals. Health Psychol. 2006; 25: 678–687.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kramer AF, Colcombe SJ, McAuley E, Scalf PE, Erickson KI. Fitness, aging and neurocognitive function. Neurobiol Aging. 2005; 26Suppl 1: 124–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Weuve J, Kang JH, Manson JE, Breteler MM, Ware JH, Grodstein F. Physical activity, including walking, and cognitive function in older women. JAMA. 2004; 292: 1454–1461.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Colcombe S, Kramer AF. Fitness effects on the cognitive function of older adults: A meta-analytic study. Psychol Sci. 2003; 14: 125–130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hu G, Tuomilehto J, Silventoinen K, Barengo NC, Peltonen M, Jousilahti P. The effects of physical activity and body mass index on cardiovascular, cancer and all-cause mortality among 47 212 middle-aged Finnish men and women. Int J Obes. 2005; 29: 894–902.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Telford RD. Low physical activity and obesity: Causes of chronic disease or simply predictors? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007; 39: 1233–1240.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Elias MF, Robbins MA, Budge MM, et al. Homocysteine, folate, and vitamins B6 and B12 blood levels in relation to cognitive performance: The Maine-Syracuse study. Psychosom Med. 2006; 68: 547–554.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Robbins MA, Elias MF, Elias PK, Budge MM. Blood pressure and cognitive function in an African-American and a Caucasian-American sample: The Maine-Syracuse Study. Psychosom Med. 2005; 67: 707–714.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. McKhann G, Drachman D, Folstein M, Katzman R, Price D, Stadlan EM. Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: Report of the NINCDS-ADRDA Work Group under the auspices of Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurology. 1984; 34: 939–944.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Radloff LS. The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psychol Meas. 1977; 1: 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lezak MD, Howieson DB, Loring DW. Neuropsychological assessment. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. “Mini-mental state”. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res. 1975; 12: 189–198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Dore GA, Elias MF, Robbins MA, Elias PK, Brennan SL. Cognitive performance and age: Norms from the Maine-Syracuse Study. Exp Aging Res. 2007; 33: 205–271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Elias MF, Robbins MA, Budge MM, et al. Homocysteine and cognitive performance: Modification by the ApoE genotype. Neurosci Lett. 2008; 430: 64–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Robbins MA, Elias MF, Budge MM, Brennan SL, Elias PK. Homocysteine, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cognitive performance: The Maine-Syracuse Study. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2005; 43: 1101–1106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wechsler D. Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: Psychological; 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Brandt J. The hopkins verbal learning test: Development of a new memory test with six equivalent forms. Clin Neuropsychol. 1991; 5: 125–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Boyd JL. A validity study of the Hooper Visual Organization Test. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1981; 49: 15–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Johnstone B, Wilhelm KL. The construct validity of the Hooper Visual Organization Test. Assessment. 1997; 4: 243–248.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Benton AL, Hamsher K de S. Multilingual Aphasia Examination. Iowa: AJA; 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Reitan RM, Wolfson D. The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test battery: Theory and clinical interpretation. Tucson: Neuropsychology; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Wechsler D. Manual for the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised. New York: Psychological; 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wechsler D. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. 3rd ed. San Antonio: Psychological; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ridker PM. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein: Potential adjunct for global risk assessment in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2001; 103: 1813–1818.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Whooley MA, Kiefe CI, Chesney MA, Markovitz JH, Matthews K, Hulley SB. Depressive symptoms, unemployment, and loss of income: The CARDIA Study. Arch Intern Med. 2002; 162: 2614–2620.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Wolf AM, Hunter DJ, Colditz GA, et al. Reproducibility and validity of a self-administered physical activity questionnaire. Int J Epidemiol. 1994; 23: 991–999.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Leon AS, et al. Compendium of physical activities: Classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993; 25: 71–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Ford ES, Mokdad AH, Giles WH. Trends in waist circumference among U.S. adults. Obes Res. 2003; 11: 1223–1231.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Singh-Manoux A, Hillsdon M, Brunner E, Marmot M. Effects of physical activity on cognitive functioning in middle age: Evidence from the Whitehall II prospective cohort study. Am J Public Health. 2005; 95: 2252–2258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Deary IJ, Whalley LJ, Batty GD, Starr JM. Physical fitness and lifetime cognitive change. Neurology. 2006; 67: 1195–1200.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Jagust W, Harvey D, Mungas D, Haan M. Central obesity and the aging brain. Arch Neurol. 2005; 62: 1545–1548.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Kershaw EE, Flier JS. Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004; 89: 2548–2556.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Slentz CA, Houmard JA, Kraus WE. Modest exercise prevents the progressive disease associated with physical inactivity. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2007; 35: 18–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Meeusen R. Exercise and the brain: Insight in new therapeutic modalities. Ann Transplant. 2005; 10: 49–51.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Gill JM. Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and insulin resistance: A short update. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2007; 18: 47–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Mitchell RL, Phillips LH. The psychological, neurochemical and functional neuroanatomical mediators of the effects of positive and negative mood on executive functions. Neuropsychologia. 2007; 45: 617–629.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. van der Meulen JA, Joosten RN, de Bruin JP, Feenstra MG. Dopamine and noradrenaline efflux in the medial prefrontal cortex during serial reversals and extinction of instrumental goal-directed behavior. Cereb Cortex. 2007; 17: 1444–1453.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Di Bonito P, Di Fraia L, Di Gennaro L, et al. Impact of impaired fasting glucose and other metabolic factors on cognitive function in elderly people. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2007; 17: 203–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Wilund KR. Is the anti-inflammatory effect of regular exercise responsible for reduced cardiovascular disease? Clin Sci. 2007; 112: 543–555.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Steffen PR, Sherwood A, Gullette EC, Georgiades A, Hinderliter A, Blumenthal JA. Effects of exercise and weight loss on blood pressure during daily life. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001; 33: 1635–1640.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Adamu B, Sani MU, Abdu A. Physical exercise and health: A review. Niger J Med. 2006; 15: 190–196.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. van Praag H, Christie BR, Sejnowski TJ, Gage FH. Running enhances neurogenesis, learning, and long-term potentiation in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999; 96: 13427–13431.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. van Praag H, Kempermann G, Gage FH. Running increases cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the adult mouse dentate gyrus. Nat Neurosci. 1999; 2: 266–270.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Yaffe K, Barnes D, Nevitt M, Lui LY, Covinsky K. A prospective study of physical activity and cognitive decline in elderly women: Women who walk. Arch Intern Med. 2001; 161: 1703–1708.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Haskell WL, Lee I, Pate RR, et al. Physical activity and public health: Updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007; 39: 1423–1434.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by Research Grants HL67358 and HL81290 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Research Grant AG03055 from the National Institute on Aging. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute on Aging, or the National Institutes of Health. The authors wish to thank Suzanne Brennan for assistance in data collection, and Amanda Goodell and Anna Sweeney for assistance in copyediting.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Maine, 5742 Little Hall, Orono, ME, 04469-5742, USA

    Gregory A. Dore B.A., Merrill F. Elias Ph.D., M.P.H., Michael A. Robbins Ph.D. & Penelope K. Elias Ph.D.

  2. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, 5742 Little Hall, Orono, ME, 04469-5742, USA

    Merrill F. Elias Ph.D., M.P.H. & Michael A. Robbins Ph.D.

  3. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Australian National University Medical School, Canberra, Australia

    Marc M. Budge M.B.B.S., B.Med.Sc.

Authors
  1. Gregory A. Dore B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Merrill F. Elias Ph.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael A. Robbins Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marc M. Budge M.B.B.S., B.Med.Sc.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Penelope K. Elias Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregory A. Dore B.A..

About this article

Cite this article

Dore, G.A., Elias, M.F., Robbins, M.A. et al. Relation Between Central Adiposity and Cognitive Function in the Maine–Syracuse Study: Attenuation by Physical Activity. ann. behav. med. 35, 341–350 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9038-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9038-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation