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. 2017 Jun;65(6):1282-1288.
doi: 10.1111/jgs.14786. Epub 2017 Mar 1.

Adiposity, Change in Adiposity, and Cognitive Decline in Mid- and Late Life

Nancy A West  1 , Seth T Lirette  2 , Victoria A Cannon  3 , Stephen T Turner  4 , Thomas H Mosley Jr  5 , Beverly G Windham  5
Affiliations

Adiposity, Change in Adiposity, and Cognitive Decline in Mid- and Late Life

Nancy A West et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine associations between adiposity and adiposity change (loss, stable, gain) and subsequent longitudinal cognitive performance in African Americans in mid and late life.

Design: Cohort study using linear mixed models.

Setting: Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy.

Participants: African-American sibships with hypertension in Jackson, Mississippi (N = 1,108).

Measurements: Waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) were measured at two examinations 5 years apart. Stable adiposity was defined as values within 5% of the first measure. A composite cognitive Z-score was derived from individual cognitive test Z-scores at two study visits 6 years apart.

Results: Larger waist circumference was associated with greater rate of cognitive decline during follow-up (beta = -0.0009 per year, P = .001); BMI, change in waist circumference, and change in BMI were not associated with rate of decline. Loss of adiposity in midlife was associated with higher cognitive Z-scores in middle-aged individuals, and loss of adiposity in late life was associated with lower Z-scores in older adults (P = .01 for interaction between waist circumference and age; P = .04 for interaction between BMI and age). Simultaneous inclusion of waist circumference and BMI in the cross-sectional model suggested an association between larger waist circumference and poorer cognitive performance (beta = -0.009, P = .006) and between higher BMI and better cognitive performance (beta = 0.014, P = .06).

Conclusion: The results suggested a differential pattern of the relationship between adiposity and cognition according to age (mid- or late life) and regional distribution of adiposity.

Keywords: body mass index; cognitive decline; ethnicity; longitudinal; waist circumference.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Decline in cognitive Z-score by waist circumference tertile, adjusted for age, sex, and education.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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