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Association Between Cognitive Function and Clustered Cardiovascular Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Older Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of obesity and insulin resistance-related comorbidities. Abdominal obesity, hypertension, elevated triglyceride and glucose levels are components of MetS and may have a negative effect on cognitive function, but few cognitive studies have examined the combined risk severity. We sought to determine which specific cognitive abilities were associated with MetS in older adults at risk of cognitive decline.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Participants

108 AIBL Active participants with memory complaints and at least one cardiovascular risk factor.

Measurements

Cardiovascular parameters and blood tests were obtained to assess metabolic syndrome criteria. The factors of MetS were standardized to obtain continuous z-scores. A battery of neuropsychological tests was used to evaluate cognitive function.

Results

Higher MetS z-scores were associated with poorer global cognition using ADAS-cog (adjusted standardized beta=0.26, SE 0.11, p<0.05) and higher Trail Making B scores (adjusted beta=0.23, SE 0.11, p<0.05). Higher MetS risk was related to lower cognitive performance.

Conclusion

Combined risk due to multiple risk factors in MetS was related to lower global cognitive performance and executive function. A higher MetS risk burden may point to opportunities for cognitive testing in older adults as individuals may experience cognitive changes.

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Abbreviations

ADAS-cog:

Alzheimer’s disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Section

AIBL:

Australian Imaging Biomarkers & Lifestyle

BP:

blood pressure

CERAD:

Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease

HDL-C:

high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol

LR:

likelihood ratio

MetS:

metabolic syndrome

MMSE:

mini-mental state examination

NCEP-ATP:

National Cholesterol Education Program Adult’s Treatment Panel

TAG:

triglyceride

TMT:

trail making test.

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Acknowledgment

We thank the Australian Imaging Biomarker and Lifestyle Study of Ageing participants for their participation and the completion of the study, the participating research staff at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) and the Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI) for the collection of physical assessments and the administration of the study. This project is supported by a project grant from Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Cognitive Health (APP1100579).

Funding

This project is supported by a project grant from Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Cognitive Health (APP1100579). Trial Registration: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611000612910

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Michelle M. Y. Lai, D. J. Ames, K. A. Ellis, E. V. Cyarto & N. T. Lautenschlager

  2. South Metropolitan Health Service, Perth, Australia

    Michelle M. Y. Lai

  3. Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, Australia

    Michelle M. Y. Lai

  4. Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    K. L. Cox

  5. School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

    M. J. Sharman

  6. Statistical Consulting Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    G. Hepworth

  7. Department of Radiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    P. Desmond

  8. Bolton Clarke Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    E. V. Cyarto

  9. Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    C. Szoeke

  10. School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia

    R. Martins

  11. Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    R. Martins

  12. The Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    K. A. Ellis & C. L. Masters

  13. WA Centre for Health & Ageing, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    N. T. Lautenschlager

  14. NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia

    N. T. Lautenschlager

Authors
  1. Michelle M. Y. Lai
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  2. D. J. Ames
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  3. K. L. Cox
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  4. K. A. Ellis
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  5. M. J. Sharman
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  6. G. Hepworth
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  7. P. Desmond
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  8. E. V. Cyarto
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  9. C. Szoeke
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  10. R. Martins
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  11. C. L. Masters
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  12. N. T. Lautenschlager
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michelle M. Y. Lai.

Ethics declarations

Subjects have given their written informed consent. Ethics approval for the AIBL Active study protocol and analyses was obtained from the Melbourne Health Human Research Ethics Committee.

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Disclosure Statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Lai, M.M.Y., Ames, D.J., Cox, K.L. et al. Association Between Cognitive Function and Clustered Cardiovascular Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Older Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline. J Nutr Health Aging 24, 300–304 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1333-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1333-4

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