Abstract
Objective Recent evidence suggests that obesity is increasing worldwide and may negatively impact neurocognition. Local studies on the association of weight status with neurocognitive function are sparse. This study is aimed at examining the association between body mass index (BMI) and neurocognitive functioning scores in a cohort of adult women. Methods A convenience sample of 175 women aged 18 to 59 years (28.03 ± 8.87) recruited in a community-based quantitative study completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The BMI metric was used to measure body fat based on weight and height and was stratified as high BMI (overweight or obese) or low BMI (normal weight). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression. Pearson's correlation analysis and the student's t-test analysis were performed. Results We observed a significant inverse association between BMI and performance on MoCA (r(173) = −0.32, p < 0.001). Performance on subtest of attention, memory, constructive abstraction, and executive functions significantly and inversely correlated with BMI. Significantly lower scores on the MoCA were found in women with a high BMI compared to women with a low BMI (23 ± 4 vs. 26 ± 3), t(173) = 4.12, p < 0.0001). Conclusions BMI and MoCA were inversely associated on both global and domain-specific neurocognitive test of attention, memory, and executive function; key neurocognitive control; and regulatory functions underlying behavior and decision-making. The findings provide a rationale for further research into the long-term effects of BMI on neurocognition.
Highlights
In the past decades, weight problems increased, especially overweight and obesity have become well-known public health problems that impact more than a billion people worldwide [1]
We examined the association between body mass index (BMI) and neurocognitive function in a cohort of South African women
The findings from this study showed that scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were negatively associated with BMI, indicating that lower mean score on the MoCA neurocognitive test is associated with a higher BMI in adult women
Summary
Weight problems increased, especially overweight and obesity have become well-known public health problems that impact more than a billion people worldwide [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized adiposity as a global epidemic that increases the risk of many chronic diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and strokes [3] It is well established in existing literature that higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of chronic diseases and the risk of all-cause mortality [3, 4]. Neurocognitive impairment is defined as difficulty in remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that impacts daily functioning. It is a major concern because it results in functional
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