AUTHOR=Gong Hong-Jian , Tang Xingyao , Chai Yin-He , Qiao Yu-Shun , Xu Hui , Patel Ikramulhaq , Zhang Jin-Yan , Zhou Jian-Bo TITLE=Predicted lean body mass in relation to cognitive function in the older adults JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1172233 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2023.1172233 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=Background

Previous findings about lean body mass (LBM) and cognitive function remain unclear. We aimed to examine this association by using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

Using data from the NHANES 2011-2014, we conducted logistic regression models to investigate the relation between the predicted LBM and domain-specific cognitive function assessed by Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Word Learning test (CERAD-WL) and Delayed Recall test (CERAD-DR), and Animal Fluency (AF) for information processing speed, memory, and executive function, respectively. Cognitive impairment was defined as the lowest quartile of each cognitive test in the total population. Sex-stratified analysis was further made.

Results

A total of 2955 participants aged 60 and above (mean [SD] age, 69.17[0.20] years; 1511 female [51.13%]) were included in the study. After being adjusted for social economic factors, anthropometric parameters, and diseases, we found a positive association between predicted LBM and information processing speed (Odds ratio of DSST impairment= 0.95, 95%CI= 0.91 to 0.99) regardless of body mass index and sex. Compared with patients in the first quartile of predicted LBM, those in the fourth quartile had an odds ratio of 0.355 (95% confidence interval 0.153-0.822) for DSST impairment. No significant relation in other cognitive tests and predicted LBM was found whether stratified by sex or not.

Conclusion

Our findings point to the association between predicted lean body mass and cognitive dysfunction in information processing speed, which could be used for early detection and prevention of deterioration of cognitive function among older adults.