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. 2024 Jan;20(1):447-458.
doi: 10.1002/alz.13439. Epub 2023 Sep 7.

Association between metabolic syndrome and risk of incident dementia in UK Biobank

Danial Qureshi  1 , Jennifer Collister  1 , Naomi E Allen  1   2 , Elżbieta Kuźma  3 , Thomas Littlejohns  1
Affiliations

Association between metabolic syndrome and risk of incident dementia in UK Biobank

Danial Qureshi et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and incident dementia remains inconclusive.

Methods: In 176,249 dementia-free UK Biobank participants aged ≥60 years at baseline, Cox proportional-hazards models were used to investigate the association between MetS and incident dementia. MetS was defined as the presence of ≥3 of the following: elevated waist circumference, triglycerides, blood pressure, blood glucose, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Results: Over 15 years of follow-up (median = 12.3), 5255 participants developed dementia. MetS was associated with an increased risk of incident dementia (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06, 1.18). The association remained consistent when restricting to longer follow-up intervals: >5 to 10 years (HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.27) and >10 years (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.32). Stronger associations were observed in those with ≥4 MetS components and in apolipoprotein-E (APOE)-ε4 non-carriers.

Discussion: In this large population-based prospective cohort, MetS was associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Highlights: MetS was associated with a 12% increased risk of incident all-cause dementia. Associations remained similar after restricting the analysis to those with longer follow-up. The presence of four or five MetS components was significantly associated with dementia. Stronger associations were observed in those with a low genetic risk for dementia.

Keywords: UK biobank; cohort studies; dementia; follow-up studies; incidence; longitudinal; metabolic syndrome; risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Cox proportional hazards models investigating the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and incident dementia by different follow‐up periods. HR = hazard ratio, CI = confidence interval, Ref. = reference group, IQR = interquartile range. Mean, median (IQR) follow‐up length in years: (1) 0–5 years: 4.9, 5.0 (5.0, 5.0); (2) >5 to 10 years: 9.8, 10.0 (10.0, 10.0); (3) 10+ years: 12.5, 12.5 (11.9, 13.2). Mean age of participants in years: (1) 0 to 5 years: 64.1; (2) >5 to 10 years: 64.1; (3) 10+ years: 64.0 years. Model adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, Townsend deprivation index, education, household income, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity, and APOE‐ε4 carrier status.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Cox proportional‐hazards model investigating the association between individual metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and incident dementia. HR = hazard ratio, CI = confidence interval, Ref. = reference group, WC = waist circumference, TG = triglycerides, BP = blood pressure, HbA1c = glycated hemoglobin A1c, HDL = high‐density lipoprotein. All individual components entered into one model. Model adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, Townsend deprivation index, education, household income, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity, and APOE ε4 carrier status.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Cox proportional‐hazards model investigating the association between the number of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components present and incident dementia. HR = hazard ratio, CI = confidence interval, Ref. = reference group. Model adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, Townsend deprivation index, education, household income, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity, and APOE‐ε4 carrier status.
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