NHANES 2011-2014: Association Between Conicity Index and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults

The negative impact of obesity on cognitive function (CF) is well-established; nevertheless, no prior studies have explored the link between conicity index and cognitive performance. This research sought to investigate the link between conicity index and cognitive impairment.

Data were obtained from a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 (NHANES), with CF evaluated by the total scores of three cognitive tests (TCT), the delayed recall test (DRT), the immediate recall test (IRT), the animal fluency test (AFT), and the digit symbol substitution test (DSST). The conicity index was derived from waist circumference, height, and weight. Multiple linear regression, smooth curve fitting, and subgroup interaction analyses were utilized to explore the correlation between conicity index and cognitive performance.

The study included 2752 subjects and the results indicated that increasing conicity index was markedly associated with declining CF. In fully adjusted models, the conicity index was linked to reductions in total cognitive score (β = -16.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): -26.68 to -6.02, p = 0.0019) and DRT (β = -1.52, 95% CI: -2.74 to -0.30, p = 0.0151), IRT (β = -2.93, 95% CI: -5.37 to -0.48, p = 0.0190), AFT (β = -2.03, 95% CI: -4.88 to 0.82, p = 0.1636), and DSST (β = -9.88, 95% CI: -17.11 to -2.65, p = 0.0075) scores. However, the negative association between conicity index and AFT score was not statistically significant.

Lower CF is associated with a higher conicity index. The conicity index is useful for the early detection of cognitive decline.