Past Issues

Objective: Previous data suggest that the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a predictor of cognition function, but the results have been conflicting. In this study, we intended to assess whether the MetS and its individual components are associated with cognitive function in old adults (≥ 60 years old) in a Taiwanese population. Methods: We analyzed 634 Taiwanese subjects, who were all scored using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Metabolic traits such as waist circumference, serum triglyceride, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and serum fasting glucose were measured. Results: Our data revealed that the MetS was significantly associated with lower MMSE scores, adjusting for age, gender, and education (adjusted β = - 0.061, standard error (SE) = 0.036, p < 0.01). This association was also significant after adjusting for alcohol consumption, smoking, social support, and physical activity (adjusted β = - 0.101, SE = 0.039, p < 0.01). Furthermore, one of the individual components of the MetS, high blood pressure, was significantly related to lower cognition after adjustment for potential confounders (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our study indicates that the MetS was associated with lower cognitive function in elderly Taiwanese subjects.