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Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Obesity and impaired cognitive functioning in the elderly: a population-based cross-sectional study (NEDICES)
J Benito-León1, A J Mitchell, J Hernández-Gallego
1Department of Neurology, University Hospital '12 de Octubre', Madrid, Spain. jbenitol@meditex.es
European Journal of Neurology
|January 18, 2013
Summary
High body mass index (BMI) is linked to poorer cognitive function in older adults. This study found that overweight and obese elderly individuals performed worse on memory, processing speed, and intelligence tests.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Conflicting research exists on the relationship between high body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function in the elderly.
- Previous studies have yielded inconsistent findings, with some suggesting detrimental effects and others indicating potential benefits of higher BMI on cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between overweight/obesity and cognitive performance in a large, population-based sample of community-dwelling elderly individuals.
- To compare cognitive function in overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m²) and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) older adults against a control group with BMI < 25 kg/m².
Main Methods:
- A neuropsychological assessment was conducted on 1,949 participants aged 65+ from the Neurological Diseases in Central Spain (NEDICES) study.
- Cognitive domains evaluated included global cognition (37-item Mini-Mental State Examination), psychomotor speed, verbal fluency, memory, and pre-morbid intelligence.
Main Results:
- The study included 507 participants with BMI < 25 kg/m², 850 overweight, and 592 obese individuals.
- Adjusted regression analyses revealed that overweight and obese status was associated with lower scores in global cognition, psychomotor speed (Trail Making Test-A errors), verbal fluency, delayed recall, immediate logical memory, and pre-morbid intelligence.
Conclusions:
- Overweight and obese elderly individuals demonstrated poorer performance on formal neuropsychological tests compared to their normal-weight counterparts.
- These findings support the hypothesis that a high BMI has a detrimental impact on cognitive function in the elderly population.
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