Cognition and its relationship with differential white cell count among obese undergraduates in Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Studies have linked obesity with cognitive impairment and low-grade inflammation; however, results have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to compare global cognitive function and its relationship with indices of obesity and total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts in obese and normal-weight undergraduates in Kano, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Eighty participants (40 obese and 40 normal weights) were randomly recruited for this case–control descriptive study. Anthropometric indices were measured according to the World Health Organization’s Stepwise protocol; global cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while the WBC count was performed by manual Leishman staining technique. Data were analyzed on statistical package for social science using an independent t-test, Chi-square test of association, Pearson’s correlation, and simple linear regression. Results: The mean age of the participants is 24 years, obese a year older (t = -2.2, P = 0.030). There was no significant difference in global cognitive function score (MoCA score) between the obese and normal-weight participants (t = -1.08, P = 0.283). However, 40% of the normal weight and 42% of the obese participants had mild cognitive impairment. Similarly, the two groups did not differ in total and differential WBC count except for %monocyte, which was higher in normal-weight participants (t = 2.22, P = 0.029). None of the anthropometric and WBC indices correlated with the MoCA score; however, %monocyte was negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = -0.244, P = 0.029), waist circumference (r = -0.216, P = 0.050), hip circumference (r = -0.234, P = 0.037), and wait-to-height ratio (r = -0.245, P = 0.028) among the whole while %lymphocyte was negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.311, P = 0.050) among obese participants. Conclusion: Obesity is not associated with a decline in cognitive function and inflammation in obese and normal-weight undergraduates in Nigeria.