Association between higher serum uric acid levels and cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Gerontology

Background:

• Inconsistent findings exist regarding the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cognitive function.
• Potential variations in this association may exist across different cognitive domains and by sex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and various domains of cognitive function.
• To clarify the relationship between SUA and cognitive performance, considering potential sex differences.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of five electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant peer-reviewed studies.
• Meta-analyses were performed to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) for associations between SUA levels and cognitive domains.
• Risk of bias and heterogeneity were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression.

Main Results:

• Higher SUA levels were significantly associated with better global cognition and learning/memory in cross-sectional studies.
• Sensitivity analyses indicated higher SUA levels correlated with better executive function and language.
• A positive relationship was observed between SUA levels and attention in prospective cohort studies, with sex-specific associations noted for executive function, learning/memory, and language.

Conclusions:

• Elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels are linked to enhanced cognitive performance across multiple domains, including global cognition, executive function, learning and memory, attention, and language.
• These findings suggest that serum uric acid may be a valuable biomarker for predicting or monitoring cognitive decline.