Association between birthweight and cognitive function in middle age: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study
Antonio José Leal Costa1, Pauline Lorena Kale, Ronir Raggio Luiz
1Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. ajcosta@iesc.ufrj.br
Annals of Epidemiology
|July 26, 2011
Summary
Birthweight may not significantly impact adult cognitive function. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study found a link only with exact birthweight reporting for word fluency, suggesting limited influence on overall cognitive performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Birthweight is a critical developmental indicator.
- Understanding early life factors influencing adult cognition is crucial for public health.
- The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) provides a valuable cohort for examining long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between birthweight and cognitive function in middle-aged adults.
- To determine if birthweight is a predictor of cognitive performance later in life.
- To analyze cognitive performance using multiple neuropsychological tests within the ARIC cohort.
Main Methods:
- Cognitive function assessed via Delayed Word Recall (DWR), Digit Symbol Subtest (DSS/WAIS-R), and Word Fluency (WF) tests.
- Birthweight data collected through standardized interviews.
- Analysis included 6785 participants from the ARIC study (1990-1998), adjusting for numerous covariates.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant linear trend was observed between birthweight and Word Fluency (WF) scores, but only for participants reporting exact birthweights (p=0.004).
- No significant or consistent associations were found between birthweight and Delayed Word Recall (DWR) or Digit Symbol Subtest (DSS/WAIS-R) performance.
- Adjustments were made for adult sociodemographic, childhood socioeconomic, parental risk, and adult health/behavioral variables.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests that birthweight has a limited impact on overall cognitive function in middle-aged adults.
- Word fluency performance showed a statistically significant association with exact birthweight reporting, but this finding requires cautious interpretation.
- Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between early life factors and adult cognitive health.
More Related Videos
10:13Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
09:38Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: November 14, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:30Biological Influences on Intelligence
Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter more...
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management
Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...