A comparative study of cognitive function and reaction time in obese and non-obese adults

Obesity may negatively affect the physical health and cognitive functions of individuals and delay their reaction time to stimuli. However, the association among obesity, cognitive functions, and reaction times is yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of obesity on cognitive functions and visual and auditory reaction times in adults.

Data of 100 participants (50 obese and 50 normal) were analyzed in the study. Anthropometric parameters and 24-h dietary recall data were recorded. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate the cognitive functions, Simple Reaction Time Task (SRTT)-Visual and SRTT-Auditory were used to assess visual and auditory reaction times of the participants, respectively.

The mean MoCA score of the obese was significantly lower than normal (17.46 and 25.22, respectively; p < 0.001). In addition, the mean auditory (p < 0.001) and visual (p < 0.05) reaction times of obese were significantly longer than normal. Similarly, this condition was also observed for the fastest and lowest values of auditory and visual reaction times. Additionally, obesity caused a decrease in the MoCA score (β = -0.762; p < 0.001) and delayed visual (β = 0.423; p < 0.001) and auditory (β = 0.590; p < 0.001) reactions. The negative effect of obesity was maintained after controlling for potential factors (MoCA, β = -0.594; p < 0.001; SRTT-Auditory, β = 0.409; p < 0.01; SRTT-Visual, β = 0.330; p < 0.05).

Obese participants showed worse cognitive, auditory and visual performance. Additional research will be necessary in the future to shed light on the fundamental mechanisms involved.