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Cognitive Function in Normal‐Weight, Overweight, and Obese Older Adults: An Analysis of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Cohort
Author(s) -
Kuo HsuKo,
Jones Richard N.,
Milberg William P.,
Tennstedt Sharon,
Talbot Laura,
Morris John N.,
Lipsitz Lewis A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.00522.x
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , cognition , body mass index , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , cross sectional study , gerontology , obesity , physical therapy , psychiatry , pathology
Objectives: To assess how elevated body mass index (BMI) affects cognitive function in elderly people. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Setting: Data for this cross‐sectional study were taken from a multicenter randomized controlled trial, the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly trial. Participants: The analytic sample included 2,684 normal‐weight, overweight, or obese subjects aged 65 to 94. Measurements: Evaluation of cognitive abilities was performed in several domains: global cognition, memory, reasoning, and speed of processing. Cross‐sectional association between body weight status and cognitive functions was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Results: Overweight subjects had better performance on a reasoning task (β=0.23, standard error (SE)=0.11, P= .04) and the Useful Field of View (UFOV) measure (β=−39.46, SE=12.95, P= .002), a test of visuospatial speed of processing, after controlling for age, sex, race, years of education, intervention group, study site, and cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects with class I (BMI 30.0–34.9 kg/m 2 ) and class II (BMI>35.0 kg/m 2 ) obesity had better UFOV measure scores (β=−38.98, SE=14.77, P= .008; β=−35.75, SE=17.65, and P= .04, respectively) in the multivariate model than normal‐weight subjects. The relationships between BMI and individual cognitive domains were nonlinear. Conclusion: Overweight participants had better cognitive performance in terms of reasoning and visuospatial speed of processing than normal‐weight participants. Obesity was associated with better performance in visuospatial speed of processing than normal weight. The relationship between BMI and cognitive function should be studied prospectively.