%0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2021 %T Central Obesity, Cardiometabolic Risk, and Cognitive Change in the Study of Latinos: Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging. %A Stickel, Ariana M %A Tarraf, Wassim %A Gonzalez, Kevin A %A Isasi, Carmen R %A Kaplan, Robert %A Gallo, Linda C %A Zeng, Donglin %A Cai, Jianwen %A Pirzada, Amber %A Daviglus, Martha L %A Goodman, Zachary T %A Schneiderman, Neil %A González, Hector M %X

BACKGROUND: The relationships between obesity and cognitive decline in aging are mixed and understudied among Hispanics/Latinos.

OBJECTIVE: To understand associations between central obesity, cognitive aging, and the role of concomitant cardiometabolic abnormalities among Hispanics/Latinos.

METHODS: Participants included 6,377 diverse Hispanics/Latinos enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) and SOL-Investigation for Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA). Participants were 45 years and older at the first cognitive testing session (Visit 1). Cognitive outcomes (z-score units) included global composite and domain specific (learning, memory, executive functioning, processing speed) measures at a second visit (SOL-INCA, on average, 7 years later), and 7-year change. We used survey linear regression to examine associations between central obesity (waist circumference≥88 cm and≥102 cm for women and men, respectively) and cognition. We also tested whether the relationships between obesity and cognition differed by cardiometabolic status (indication of/treatment for 2 + of the following: high triglycerides, hypertension, hyperglycemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol).

RESULTS: Central obesity was largely unassociated with cognitive outcomes, adjusting for covariates. However, among individuals with central obesity, cardiometabolic abnormality was linked to poorer cognitive function at SOL-INCA (ΔGlobalCognition =-0.165, p < 0.001) and to more pronounced cognitive declines over the average 7 years (ΔGlobalCognition = -0.109, p < 0.05); this was consistent across cognitive domains.

CONCLUSION: Central obesity alone was not associated with cognitive function. However, presence of both central obesity and cardiometabolic abnormalities was robustly predictive of cognition and 7-year cognitive declines, suggesting that in combination these factors may alter the cognitive trajectories of middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 82 %P 1203-1218 %8 2021 Aug 03 %G eng %N 3 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34151803?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-210314 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T Life's Simple 7's Cardiovascular Health Metrics are Associated with Hispanic/Latino Neurocognitive Function: HCHS/SOL Results. %A González, Hector M %A Tarraf, Wassim %A Gouskova, Natalia %A Rodríguez, Carlos J %A Rundek, Tatjana %A Grober, Ellen %A Pirzada, Amber %A González, Patricia %A Lutsey, Pamela L %A Camacho, Alvaro %A Daviglus, Martha L %A Wright, Clinton %A Mosley, Thomas H %X

BACKGROUND: Hispanics/Latinos are purportedly at increased risk for neurocognitive decline and dementias. Without dementia cures, low-cost, well-tolerated public health means for mitigating neurocognitive decline are needed.

OBJECTIVE: We examined associations between neurocognition and cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics (Life's Simple 7; LS7) among diverse Hispanics/Latinos. We hypothesized that higher LS7 would be associated with healthier brain function (neurocognitive performance).

METHODS: We used baseline (2008-2011) Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL; N = 9,623; ages 45-74 years) to examine neurocognition in relation to CVH LS7 scores.

RESULTS: In age and sex adjusted models, a one unit LS7 score increase (range = 0-14) was associated with higher neurocognitive function on the B-SEVLT sum (0.23 [p < 0.01]; range = 3-42), B-SEVLT recall (0.12 [p < 0.01]; range = 0-15), Word Fluency (phonemic; 0.46 (p < 0.01); range = 0-49), and Digit Symbol Substitution (0.49 (p < 0.01); range = 0-83) tests, respectively. Stated differently, a change from the minimum LS7 (0) to maximum LS7 (14) score corresponded to higher scores on verbal learning (4.62) and memory (2.24), verbal fluency (7.0), and psychomotor processing speed (12). In fully adjusted models the associations were attenuated, but remained statistically significant. Incremental adjustments indicated that Latino background and, to a lesser extent, education were primary contributors to the evinced attenuations.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that higher neurocognitive function was associated with better LS7 CVH metrics among middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos. Associations between neurocognitive function and LS7 were strongest among two at-risk groups for neurocognitive decline and dementia, women and Hispanics/Latinos with lower education. Public health efforts to reduce cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality may have additional neurocognitive benefits among at-risk Hispanics/Latinos.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 53 %P 955-65 %8 2016 Jun 18 %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27340845?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-151125