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Reduced memory in fat mass and obesity-associated allele carriers among older adults with cardiovascular disease.

ABSTRACT: Much attention has been paid to the prevalence and predisposition of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene to obesity, although only a few studies have characterized the extent to which this affects cognitive function. This study examined differences between risk allele carriers (i.e. FTO-AC/AA) and non-carriers (i.e. FTO-CC) on indices of attention/executive function/psychomotor speed, memory, language, and visual-spatial ability in a sample of older patients with cardiovascular disease.We recruited 120 older adults from an outpatient cardiology clinic who underwent blood draw and completed neuropsychological testing. Participants were classified into two groups: one for those who were homozygous for the non-risk-conferring allele (i.e. FTO-CC) (n= 49) and the other for those who had at least one copy of the obesity risk-conferring A allele (i.e. FTO-AC/AA) (n= 71).Mancova analyses adjusting for age and years of education revealed the FTO-AC/AA group performed significantly worse on indices of memory (?= 0.94, F(2, 115) = 3.58, P= 0.03, partial ?(2) = 0.06). Follow-up tests revealed a significant effect for the FTO-AC/AA group, relative to the non-carrier group, on encoding (i.e. California Verbal Learning Test Total Learning) and California Verbal Learning Test long-delay free recall (P < 0.05). No such differences between FTO carriers and non-carriers emerged on tests of attention/executive function/psychomotor speed, language, or visual-spatial ability (P > 0.05 for all).These findings suggest that the FTO risk allele is associated with reduced memory performance, particularly on aspects of memory encoding and delayed recall. To elucidate underlying mechanisms, these findings will need to be replicated in larger samples that utilize neuroimaging.

SUBMITTER: Alosco ML

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3806216 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Reduced memory in fat mass and obesity-associated allele carriers among older adults with cardiovascular disease.

Alosco Michael L ML Benitez Andreana A Gunstad John J Spitznagel Mary Beth MB McCaffery Jeanne M JM McGeary John E JE Poppas Athena A Paul Robert H RH Sweet Lawrence H LH Cohen Ronald A RA

Psychogeriatrics : the official journal of the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society 20130301 1

<h4>Background</h4>Much attention has been paid to the prevalence and predisposition of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene to obesity, although only a few studies have characterized the extent to which this affects cognitive function. This study examined differences between risk allele carriers (i.e. FTO-AC/AA) and non-carriers (i.e. FTO-CC) on indices of attention/executive function/psychomotor speed, memory, language, and visual-spatial ability in a sample of older patients with ca ...[more]

PMID: 23551410

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Project description:ObjectiveThe apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) allele and midlife obesity are independent risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Both of these risk factors are also associated with differences in brain activation, as measured by blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses, in the absence of detectable cognitive deficits. Although the presence of these risk factors may influence brain activity during working memory tasks, no study to date has examined whether the presence of the ε4 allele explains variation in working memory brain activity while matching for levels of overweight/obesity. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of the ε4 allele is associated with differences in task-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain activation in adults with overweight/obesity. We predicted that ε4 carriers would have greater brain activation in regions that support working memory.MethodsThis ancillary study included 48 (n = 24 APOE ε4 carriers; n = 24 APOE ε4 non-carriers), sedentary middle-aged adults (Mean age = 44.63 ± 8.36 years) with overweight/obesity (Mean BMI = 32.43 ± 4.12 kg/m2) who were matched on demographic characteristics. Participants were a subsample enrolled in 12-month randomized clinical trial examining the impact of energy-restricted diet and exercise on cardiovascular health outcomes. Participants completed a n-back working memory task with fMRI, which were completed within one month of the start of the intervention. Participants also underwent pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling scans, a MRI measure of cerebral blood flow (CBF).ResultsCompared to non-ε4 carriers with overweight/obesity, ε4 carriers with overweight/obesity had lower fMRI brain activity in the middle frontal gyrus, pre and post central gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, lateral occipital cortex, and angular gyrus (z range = 2.52-3.56) during the n-back working memory task. Differences persisted even when controlling for CBF in these brain regions.ConclusionThese results indicate that presence of the APOE ε4 allele in middle-aged adults with overweight/obesity is related to altered brain activity during a working memory paradigm, which may confer risk for accelerated neurocognitive decline in late adulthood. Future research is needed to clarify the clinical implications of these findings in the context of risk for AD.

Project description:Background/objectives/introductionIt is imperative to accurately estimate whole body fat percentage (%fat) to understand the deleterious nature of excess adiposity on cardiometabolic disease risk. Cost and accessibility often preclude the use of advanced imaging methods like dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Relative fat mass (RFM) is an emerging estimator of whole body %fat based on waist circumference, height, and biological sex. The purpose of this ancillary study was to examine the relationship between RFM and gold-standard measures of adiposity among community-dwelling older adults with obesity and to evaluate if changes in RFM reflect changes in %fat following a 12-month lifestyle intervention (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00955903).Patients/materials and methodsParticipants (N = 163, 37.4% male, 70.3 ± 4.7 years) were randomized to the exercise only group, exercise + nutrient-dense weight maintenance group, or exercise + nutrient-dense energy restriction of 500 kcal/d group. Total and regional adiposity assessed by DXA and MRI, as well as anthropometrics, were evaluated at baseline and 12 months.ResultsRFM was significantly positively correlated with DXA whole body %fat and DXA trunk %fat at baseline. Equivalence testing revealed that RFM was considered equivalent to DXA whole body %fat for females only. Additionally, from baseline to 12 months, a significant reduction in RFM was observed among female participants in the exercise + energy restriction group only. Changes in RFM were significantly correlated with changes in DXA whole body %fat, DXA trunk fat, and total abdominal fat tissue determined by MRI.ConclusionResults support the use of RFM as an estimate of whole body %fat where advanced imaging techniques are not feasible. Furthermore, results suggest that this index is sensitive to changes in fat mass over 12 months in female older adults with obesity. KEY MESSAGESRelative fat mass (RFM), an emerging estimator of whole body %fat based on waist circumference, height, and biological sex, was intentionally developed to be a simple estimate of adiposity that overcomes limitations of measures like body mass index.In the current study, results from correlations and agreement analyses support the use of RFM to estimate whole-body fat percentage in a community-dwelling older adult population with obesity when advanced methods, namely dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, are not feasible.Significant reductions in RFM were also observed over a 12-month period that was significantly correlated with changes in whole body fat percentage; thus, supporting the sensitivity of RFM to lifestyle changes.

Project description:Abstract Objectives It is imperative to accurately estimate whole body fat percentage (%fat) in order to understand the deleterious nature of excess adiposity on cardiometabolic disease risk. However, cost and accessibility often preclude the use of advanced assessment methods. Relative fat mass (RFM), an emerging estimator of whole body %fat based upon waist circumference, height, and biological sex, has yet to be evaluated in an older adult population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between RFM and gold standard measures of adiposity among older adults, and to evaluate whether changes in RFM reflected changes in %fat following a 12-month lifestyle intervention. Methods This study was ancillary to a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a lifestyle intervention with and without intentional energy restriction. (Clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00955903). Older adults with obesity (N = 163, 37.4% male, 70.3 ± 4.7 years) were randomized to one of three groups: exercise only, exercise + nutrient-dense weight maintenance diet, or exercise + nutrient-dense energy restriction of 500 kcal/d. Total and regional adiposity were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and 12 months. Data were analyzed using Spearman's correlations, Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, and linear regression tests. Results At baseline, significant correlations were observed between RFM and DXA whole body %fat (r = 0.751, P < 0.001), DXA total fat (r = 0.353, P < 0.001), and DXA trunk %fat (r = 0.661, P < 0.001). Additionally, RFM was a significant predictor of DXA whole body %fat (P < 0.001) and accounted for 63.5% of model variance. From baseline to 12 months, a significant reduction in RFM was observed among participants in the exercise only and exercise + energy restriction groups (P = 0.020, P < 0.001, respectively). Magnitude of RFM change did not differ among groups. Notably, changes in RFM were significantly correlated with changes in DXA whole body %fat (r = 0.279, P = 0.001) and DXA trunk %fat (r = 0.276, P = 0.001). Conclusions Results support use of RFM as an estimate of whole body %fat, as well as an indicator of its sensitivity to change in fat mass over 12 months in older adults. Incorporation of RFM in cardiometabolic research may provide meaningful information not reflected in conventional body composition measures such as body mass index. Funding Sources NIH

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Reduced memory in fat mass and obesity-associated allele carriers among older adults with cardiovascular disease.

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Reduced memory in fat mass and obesity-associated allele carriers among older adults with cardiovascular disease.

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