Role of Educational Status in Explaining the Association between Body Mass Index and Cognitive Function
Resource
Medicine (Baltimore), 95(5), 1-7
Journal
Medicine
Pages
e2656
Date Issued
2016
Date
2016
Author(s)
Ho, Yi-Te
Kao, Tung-Wei
Peng, Tao-Chun
Liaw, Fang-Yih
Yang, Hui-Fang
Sun, Yu-Shan
Chang, Yaw-Wen
Chen, Wei-Liang
Abstract
Preserving physical and cognitive function becomes an important issue as people age. A growing number of studies have found that the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function changes in different age groups. It is obvious that higher educational status is linked to higher cognitive function in terms of numerous risk factors that influence cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the interplay between obesity and cognitive function categorized by different educational status. ;This study included 5021 participants aged 20 to 59 years who completed 3 neurocognitive function tests, including a simple reaction time test (SRTT), a symbol digit substitution test (SDST), and a serial digit learning test (SDLT) as reported in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III database. The associations between neurocognitive function and BMI were analyzed using multivariate linear regression while controlling for confounders. ;After adjusting for pertinent covariates in mode 3, the beta coefficients in the female participants with more than 12 years of education (interpreted as change of 3 neurocognitive function tests for each increment in BMI) comparing obesity groups to those with normal BMI were 16.2 (P < 0.001 for SRTT), 0.14 (P < 0.05 for SDST), and 0.9 (P < 0.05 for SDLT). Male participants with more than 12 years of education and female participants with fewer than 12 years of education demonstrated increased impairment as their BMI increased. However, this association was not significant after adjustments. ;Obese individuals had worse neurocognitive function than those of normal weight or overweight, especially in women with a high educational level.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; Article; body mass; clinical evaluation; cognition; cognition assessment; cognitive function test; controlled study; cross-sectional study; educational status; female; human; major clinical study; male; neurocognitive function test; obesity; priority journal; body mass; cognition; middle aged; nutrition; obesity; pathophysiology; physiology; psychology; psychometry; young adult; Adult; Body Mass Index; Cognition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Obesity; Psychometrics; Young Adult