Association of traditional and novel measures of central obesity with cognitive performance in older multi ‐ethnic Asians with type 2 diabetes

SummaryLiterature evaluating the relationship between central obesity and cognitive deficits in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains scarce. This cross ‐sectional analysis explored the association of novel and traditional central obesity measures with cognitive performance in older (aged ≥60 years) non‐demented multi‐ethnic Asians with T2DM, including a stratified analysis by body mass index (BMI). Cognitive function was assessed using th e Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Central obesity measures including visceral fat area (VFA), waist circumference, waist:hip ratio, waist:height ratio, abdominal volume index, body roundness index and conicity index were measured and/or computed. In our cohort (N = 677; mean age = 67 ± 5 years, 51.7% men), VFA emerged as an associate of overall cognitive performance after covariate adjustment and Bonferroni correction (β =  −.10, 95% CI = −0.18, −0.03), outperforming the other adiposity indices. Specifically, VFA was inversely associated with delayed memory and language scores. Additionally, compared with normal‐weight individuals, excess visceral obesity (VFA ≥100 cm2) was independently associated with lower cognitive scores to a greater extent in normal BMI (<23  kg/m2) adults than in those with high BMI ( ≥23 kg/m2). Assessment and management of visceral adiposity may help to prevent cognitive decline in older people with T2DM, and reduce the global burden of dementia ...
Source: Clinical Obesity - Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Authors: Tags: Original Research Article Source Type: research