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Published on: April 23, 2021
Cumulative lead dose and cognitive function in older adults
Karen Bandeen-Roche1, Thomas A Glass, Karen I Bolla
1Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore MD 21205, USA. kbandeen@jhsph.edu
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)
|September 16, 2009
Summary
High cumulative lead exposure in older adults is linked to persistent cognitive decline, particularly in eye-hand coordination and memory. These effects may be progressive and are evident even after accounting for socioeconomic factors.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Older Americans have significant lifetime lead exposure.
- Concerns exist regarding lead's impact on cognitive function in aging populations.
- The study investigates lead dose association with cognitive function and decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between cumulative lead dose and cognitive function.
- To determine if lead exposure effects on cognition are persistent, reversible, or progressive.
- To assess lead's impact on cognitive decline in adults aged 50-70.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal linear modeling used to assess tibia lead concentration.
- Participants were sociodemographically diverse, community-dwelling adults aged 50-70.
- Six cognitive domains were measured: language, processing speed, eye-hand coordination, executive functioning, verbal memory, and visual memory.
Main Results:
- Mean tibia lead level was 18.8 (11.6) microg/g.
- Higher tibia lead correlated with progressive decline in eye-hand coordination.
- Lead exposure was linked to persistent cognitive impairment across all measured domains, especially in white individuals for specific functions.
Conclusions:
- Provides strong evidence for lead dose effects on adult cognition, independent of socioeconomic status.
- Findings suggest cumulative lead exposure impacts cognitive function in older adults.
- The study's relatively young cohort and short follow-up indicate these results may underestimate the full impact.
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