Abstract
Background: Obesity has been related to the incidence of dementia but its impact on cognitive performance in persons without dementia is less clear. We hypothesized that mid-life obesity may modulate the impact of conventional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) on cognitive impairment. We tested this hypothesis in the community-based Framingham Offspring Study sample. Methods: At Examination cycle 4 (1988-90) of the Offspring Cohort, indices of obesity (BMI and Waist-Hip Ratio [WHR]) and baseline CVRF levels were ascertained in 1,814 men and women, aged 40-69 years. Obesity and hypertension were related to the score on each of 8 neurocognitive tests measured at Examination 8, 12 years later (1999-2002). Results: Midlife measures of central obesity (WHR in the uppermost quartile- Q4) and of hypertension (BP≥140/≥90 or use of anti-hypertensive medication) were each significantly related to poorer performance on executive function & visuomotor skills (Trails B, Visual Reproductions-Immediate and Delayed Recall). Further, the relation of hypertension to neurocognitive performance was significantly modified by WHR; hypertension was not associated with neurocognitive performance in WHR Q1-Q3, but was associated with a marked adverse performance in Q4 WHR. Neither HTN nor obesity was individually or synergistically related to verbal memory (immediate or delayed recall). Conclusions: Executive function and visuomotor skills were differentially affected by the combined presence of midlife hypertension and Q4 WHR while measures of verbal memory function were not related to these risk factors in our sample, a pattern consistent with vascular cognitive impairment. Control of mid-life elevated blood pressure and central obesity may be strategies to reduce cognitive decline with age.
Keywords: Obesity, hypertension, cognitive functioning, executive function, waist-hip ratio, mid-life risk factors, epidemiologic study
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: Relation of Obesity to Cognitive Function: Importance of Central Obesity and Synergistic Influence of Concomitant Hypertension. The Framingham Heart Study
Volume: 4 Issue: 2
Author(s): Philip A. Wolf, Alexa Beiser, Merrill F. Elias, Rhoda Au, Ramachandran S. Vasan and Sudha Seshadri
Affiliation:
Keywords: Obesity, hypertension, cognitive functioning, executive function, waist-hip ratio, mid-life risk factors, epidemiologic study
Abstract: Background: Obesity has been related to the incidence of dementia but its impact on cognitive performance in persons without dementia is less clear. We hypothesized that mid-life obesity may modulate the impact of conventional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) on cognitive impairment. We tested this hypothesis in the community-based Framingham Offspring Study sample. Methods: At Examination cycle 4 (1988-90) of the Offspring Cohort, indices of obesity (BMI and Waist-Hip Ratio [WHR]) and baseline CVRF levels were ascertained in 1,814 men and women, aged 40-69 years. Obesity and hypertension were related to the score on each of 8 neurocognitive tests measured at Examination 8, 12 years later (1999-2002). Results: Midlife measures of central obesity (WHR in the uppermost quartile- Q4) and of hypertension (BP≥140/≥90 or use of anti-hypertensive medication) were each significantly related to poorer performance on executive function & visuomotor skills (Trails B, Visual Reproductions-Immediate and Delayed Recall). Further, the relation of hypertension to neurocognitive performance was significantly modified by WHR; hypertension was not associated with neurocognitive performance in WHR Q1-Q3, but was associated with a marked adverse performance in Q4 WHR. Neither HTN nor obesity was individually or synergistically related to verbal memory (immediate or delayed recall). Conclusions: Executive function and visuomotor skills were differentially affected by the combined presence of midlife hypertension and Q4 WHR while measures of verbal memory function were not related to these risk factors in our sample, a pattern consistent with vascular cognitive impairment. Control of mid-life elevated blood pressure and central obesity may be strategies to reduce cognitive decline with age.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Wolf A. Philip, Beiser Alexa, Elias F. Merrill, Au Rhoda, Vasan S. Ramachandran and Seshadri Sudha, Relation of Obesity to Cognitive Function: Importance of Central Obesity and Synergistic Influence of Concomitant Hypertension. The Framingham Heart Study, Current Alzheimer Research 2007; 4 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720507780362263
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720507780362263 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New Advances in the Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Alzheimer's Disease
Aims and Scope: Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing prevalence that demands concerted efforts to advance our understanding and strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. This thematic issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from multidisciplinary perspectives to address ...read more
Current updates on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroinflammation is an invariable hallmark of chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders and has long been considered a potential drug target for Alzheimer?s disease (AD) and dementia. Significant evidence of inflammatory processes as a feature of AD is provided by the presence of inflammatory markers in plasma, CSF and postmortem brain ...read more
Deep Learning for Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing number of individuals affected yearly. Deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has shown immense potential in various domains, including healthcare. This thematic issue of Current Alzheimer Research explores the application of deep learning techniques in advancing our ...read more
Diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of dementia
Dementia affects 18 million people worldwide. Dementia is a syndrome of symptoms caused by brain disease, usually chronic or progressive, clinically characterized by multiple impairments of higher cortical functions such as memory, thinking, orientation, and learning. In addition, in the course of dementia, cognitive deficits are observed, which often hinder ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Treatment of Tachycardia in Hypertension: Where Do We Stand Now?
Current Hypertension Reviews The Innovations in Pulmonary Hypertension Pathophysiology and Treatment: What are our Options!
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Anti-Platelet Therapy and Aspirin Resistance – Clinically and Chemically Relevant?
Current Medicinal Chemistry Quantitative Vascular Evaluation: From Laboratory Experiments to Point-of-Care Patient (Clinical Approach)
Current Hypertension Reviews Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis: An Update on Diagnosis and Management
Current Vascular Pharmacology Recent Developments in the Synthesis of Cinnoline Derivatives
Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry Pharmacotherapy of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Flavonoids and Linderone from Lindera oxyphylla and their Bioactivities
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Comparison of Pharmacodynamics and Celiac Effects of Olmesartan Medoxomil Formulations by using Olmesartan-induced Celiac-rat-model
Current Drug Delivery CGRP, a Vasodilator Neuropeptide that Stimulates Neuromuscular Transmission and EC Coupling
Current Vascular Pharmacology Pulmonary Hypertension: Current Therapy and Future Prospects
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Effects of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Blockade on Diabetic Patients
Current Enzyme Inhibition Plasma Renalase in Chronic Kidney Disease: Differences and Similarities between Humans and Rats
Current Hypertension Reviews Risk Factors in Cardiovascular Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Current Cardiology Reviews Coumarin and Derivates as Lipid Lowering Agents
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Potentials of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis for the Treatment of Migraine: Targeting CGRP in the Trigeminovascular System
Current Neuropharmacology Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Cerebral Ischemia and Ischemic Heart Diseases: Similarities and Differences
Current Cardiology Reviews Chronic Inflammatory Disorders and Accelerated Atherosclerosis: Chronic Kidney Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Large-Scale Prediction of Drug Targets Based on Local and Global Consistency of Chemical-Chemical Networks
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Factors Affecting Residual Platelet Aggregation in Prasugrel Treated Patients
Current Pharmaceutical Design