Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies reported mixed results regarding the association between cognition and body weight in late life. We evaluated the relationships between cognitive function and body composition among community-dwelling older adults.MethodsThree hundred twenty subjects (≥65 years, women 53%) with available data of cognitive function and body composition from 2010 Hallym Aging Study. Cognitive function was assessed using Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used for measuring body composition including body fat and lean body mass. Anthropometric measurements and laboratory data were collected in clinical examination. Body composition variables were divided into sex-specific tertiles, and examined by multivariable logistic regression.ResultsAmong female, the highest tertile group of fat mass and second tertile group of total lean body mass were associated with lower risk for cognitive impairment compared to the respective first tertile groups (odds ratios, 0.23 and 0.09, respectively; 95% confidence intervals, 0.04–0.88 and 0.01–0.44, respectively) after adjusting for confounding factors. In male, higher arm bone mineral content was associated with lower risk for cognitive impairment, but significance was lost after adjusting for adiponectin, age, and education.ConclusionsHigher fat mass and lean body mass were associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment in older women. These observations suggest that body fat and lean mass later in life might be beneficial for cognition.
Highlights
Previous studies reported mixed results regarding the association between cognition and body weight in late life
The highest tertile of arm bone mineral content (BMC) was associated with lower risk for cognitive impairment compared to the first tertile in model 1, but significance was lost after adjusting for adiponectin, age, and education (Table 3)
The highest tertile group of fat mass and second tertile group of total lean body mass were associated with lower risk for cognitive impairment compared to the respective first tertile groups after adjusting for confounding factors (Table 4)
Summary
Previous studies reported mixed results regarding the association between cognition and body weight in late life. Previous studies regarding the association between cognitive performance and body weight status reported. In an Italian population-based study, a higher BMI and higher body fat mass (BFM) were positively associated with better performance on cognitive tasks related to selective attention and executive functions [6]. The population-based, prospective Mayo Clinic Study of Aging suggested that a greater decrease in BMI per decade was associated with the mild cognitive impairment [7]. In the Sydney Memory and Aging Study, BMI and body fat measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were related to executive function, suggesting cognitive benefits in overweight older adults [8]. A Chinese study reported that central obesity or low BMI were significantly associated with the risk of cognitive impairment [11]
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