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Published on: April 23, 2021
Cumulative lead exposure and cognitive performance among elderly men
Marc G Weisskopf1, Susan P Proctor, Robert O Wright
1Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)
|November 30, 2006
Summary
Cumulative lead exposure in adults can impair cognitive function, especially visuospatial/visuomotor skills. This study highlights the long-term impact of lead on cognitive decline in older men.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Growing evidence links cumulative lead exposure to cognitive decline in adults.
- Specific cognitive domains affected by nonoccupational lead exposure require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between cumulative lead exposure (blood and bone lead) and cognitive function over time in elderly men.
- To identify specific cognitive domains impacted by lead exposure.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of cognitive test scores in the Normative Aging Study cohort (n=1089).
- Measurement of bone lead using K-shell x-ray fluorescence (1991-1999).
- Assessment of cognitive performance and reaction time using a battery of tests from 1993-2001.
Main Results:
- Little cross-sectional association was found between blood or bone lead and cognitive scores.
- Progressive decline in cognitive performance over time correlated with increased bone lead levels.
- Visuospatial/visuomotor tests showed the most significant impact, particularly on performance and reaction time.
Conclusions:
- Low-level, cumulative lead exposure from nonoccupational sources may negatively affect cognitive function in older adults.
- The visuospatial/visuomotor domain appears particularly vulnerable to lead-induced cognitive impairment.
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