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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 3/2008

01-06-2008 | Original Article

Relation Between Central Adiposity and Cognitive Function in the Maine–Syracuse Study: Attenuation by Physical Activity

Authors: Gregory A. Dore, B.A., Merrill F. Elias, Ph.D., M.P.H., Michael A. Robbins, Ph.D., Marc M. Budge, M.B.B.S., B.Med.Sc., Penelope K. Elias, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2008

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Abstract

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between central adiposity and cognitive function. However, only some of these studies have adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease, and none have also adjusted for physical activity level.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine the association between anthropometric measures of central adiposity (waist circumference and waist/hip ratio) and cognitive functioning with adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors and physical activity.

Methods

Participants were 917 stroke- and dementia-free community-dwelling adults (59% women) in the Maine–Syracuse Study. The design was cross-sectional. Outcome measures included tests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, the Wechsler Memory Scale Revised, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.

Results

Waist circumference and waist/hip ratio were inversely related to multiple cognitive domains with adjustment for age, education, gender, and number of prior exams. For example, a 20-cm increment in waist circumference was associated with a 0.14 SD decrement in the Global Composite score. These relations were attenuated with adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, with further adjustment for physical activity level, only waist circumference remained significantly associated with performance on the Similarities test.

Conclusions

Waist circumference and waist/hip ratio are inversely related to cognitive function. Measures of central adiposity predict cognitive function independently of associated cardiovascular risk factors and events; however, the association between central adiposity and cognitive function is attenuated, to a large extent, by adjustment for physical activity level. Physical activity is an important covariate in studies relating measures of central adiposity to cognition.
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Metadata
Title
Relation Between Central Adiposity and Cognitive Function in the Maine–Syracuse Study: Attenuation by Physical Activity
Authors
Gregory A. Dore, B.A.
Merrill F. Elias, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Michael A. Robbins, Ph.D.
Marc M. Budge, M.B.B.S., B.Med.Sc.
Penelope K. Elias, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-06-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2008
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9038-7

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