Relationship Between Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Function: A Population-Based Study of Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults in Rural China

Abstract

Introduction To explore the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive impairment in a low-income and low-education population. Methods All residents aged ≥45 years in a low-income population in Tianjin, China, were eligible to participate in this study. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale was used to conduct a preliminary screening and assessment of the participants’ cognitive statuses. The MMSE components are orientation, registration, attention and calculation, recall, and language. Results In this population, the prevalences of MetS and cognitive impairment were 54.1% and 44.5%, respectively. In the overall population, the registration score was 0.105 points lower in the elevated triglycerides (TG) group than in the normal TG group (β, −0.105; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.201, −0.010; P=0.030). In men, high TG was associated with registration scores that were 0.152 points lower than those in the normal TG group (95% CI: −0.281, −0.022; P=0.022), while larger WC and lower HDL-C had positive effects on cognitive scores (all P<0.05). However, in women, there were no significant differences between cognitive scores and MetS or its components. Conclusion In this population, first, TG had a great impact on cognition, even greater than the impact of MetS on cognition. Second, the impact of MetS components on cognition was more obvious in men, and not all of the effects were negative. Therefore, the effect of MetS on cognition may need to be analyzed separately for different populations, and it may be that the effect of a single component is greater than the overall effect. When formulating prevention strategies for cognitive impairments, population differences must also be taken into consideration.

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“… 9 In addition, there is a correlation between metabolic syndrome and cognitive function. 10 However, these disorders significantly impact the quality of life and public health. Therefore, it is critical to identify MCI early diagnostic biomarkers in T2DM patients.…”

Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Decline in Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Study

“… 18 However, in contrast to the findings of these studies, a recent study that involved participants from Tianjin, China, aged 45 years and older with poor income showed an association between high triglycerides and cognitive decline. 19 The researchers of the Chinese study 19 suggested that the differences between these various studies might be related to the nutritional and metabolic status of the different populations. Other studies that have used triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), an insulin resistance biomarker (calculated from triglyceride values and fasting serum glucose), reported that an increased TyG index is strongly associated with the risk of developing cognitive decline.…”

Relationship Between Hypertension and Cognitive Function in an Elderly Population: A Population-Based Study in Rural Northern China

“…This was a population-based, cross-sectional study conducted from April 2014 to January 2015 in rural areas of Tianjin, China. The participants were from a sub-cohort of the Tianjin Brain Study ( 13 , 14 ), which has been described previously. Briefly, approximately 95% of the individuals in this study reported a 2014 disposable income per capita of <1,600 USD ( 15 ).…”

“…The specific information collected and the associated processes have been described in detail ( 14 ). Using pre-designed questionnaires, uniformly trained investigators collect participants' information through face-to-face interviews.…”