Abstract
Background/Aims: Central obesity is a risk factor for cognitive decline. Leptin is secreted by adipose tissue and has been associated with better cognitive function. Aging Mexican Americans have higher levels of obesity than non-Hispanic Whites, but no investigations examined the relationship between leptin and cognitive decline among them or the role of central obesity in this association. Methods: We analyzed 1,480 dementia-free older Mexican Americans who were followed over 10 years. Cognitive function was assessed every 12-15 months with the Modified Mini Mental State Exam (3MSE) and the Spanish and English Verbal Learning Test (SEVLT). Results: For females with a small waist circumference (≤35 inches), an interquartile range difference in leptin was associated with 35% less 3MSE errors and 22% less decline in the SEVLT score over 10 years. For males with a small waist circumference (≤40 inches), an interquartile range difference in leptin was associated with 44% less 3MSE errors and 30% less decline in the SEVLT score over 10 years. There was no association between leptin and cognitive decline among females or males with a large waist circumference. Conclusion: Leptin interacts with central obesity in shaping cognitive decline. Our findings provide valuable information about the effects of metabolic risk factors on cognitive function.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 400-409 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Aging
- Cognition
- Leptin
- Longitudinal study
- Mexican Americans
- Obesity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychiatry and Mental health