Only persistent metabolic syndrome associated with lower cognitive performance in late midlife
Document Actions
All components defining the metabolic syndrome may fluctuate over time, the phenotype being therefore transient or permanent, and its severity varying in some patients. This study involving 4150 white participants from the Whitehall II study was aimed at examining the association between metabolic syndrome (NCEP ATP III) and poor cognition in late midlife. The duration of follow-up was 10 years, during which assessments were made on three occasions. A battery of six tests was used to assess cognition at the end of follow-up. After adjusting for confounding variables, participants with persistent metabolic syndrome, evidenced at least at two out of three screenings, exhibited lower cognitive performance than those who never had metabolic syndrome. Adjustments for adult occupational position attenuated the association, whereas adjustments for education had little effect. Between participants with non-persistent metabolic syndrome and those without metabolic syndrome, no statistically significant difference was found. In conclusion, the study findings show that only persistent metabolic syndrome was associated with cognitive decline in late midlife, with adult occupational situation, not education, having an impact on this association.
Abstract
