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. 2018 May 15:388:97-102.
doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.11.031. Epub 2017 Nov 23.

Insulin resistance and cognitive test performance in elderly adults: National health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES)

Ayesha Z Sherzai  1 , Magda Shaheen  2 , Jeffrey J Yu  3 , Konrad Talbot  4 , Dean Sherzai  5
Affiliations

Insulin resistance and cognitive test performance in elderly adults: National health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES)

Ayesha Z Sherzai et al. J Neurol Sci. .

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relationship between homeostatic model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and cognitive test performance among population≥60years in a national database.

Hypothesis: Higher insulin resistance is associated with lower cognitive test performance score in the population≥60years.

Participants: We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 and 2001-2002.

Measurements: Cognitive test performance was measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS) exercise score. The main independent variable was the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). We used bivariate analysis and generalized linear model adjusting for age, gender, race, education, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures; total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride levels; and physical activity, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and congestive heart failure. STATA 14 was used to analyze the data taking into consideration the design, strata and weight.

Results: Of the 1028 participants, 44% were male and 85% were white. The mean age was 70.0±0.28 (SE) years. Their average HOMA-IR was 3.6±0.14 and they had a mean of 49.2±0.8 correct DSS score in the cognitive test. Adjusting for the confounding variables, HOMA-IR was associated with decline in DSS score (B=-0.30, 95% confidence interval=-0.54 and -0.05, p=0.01). The model explained 44% of the variability of the DSS score (R2=0.44). Significant predictors of decline in DSS score were age, gender, race, and education (p=0.01).

Conclusion: Insulin resistance as measured by HOMA-IR was independently associated with lower cognitive test performance score among elderly participants aged ≥60years. Longitudinal studies are needed to test the mechanism and the causal relationship.

Keywords: Cognitive test performance; Diabetes; Elderly; Insulin resistance.

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