High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level Relates to Working Memory, Immediate and Delayed Cued Recall in Brazilian Older Adults: The Role of Cognitive Reserve

Abstract

Aims: The present study set out to investigate the relation of the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level to cognitive performance and its interplay with key markers of cognitive reserve in a large sample of older adults. Methods: We assessed tests of working memory, immediate and delayed cued recall in 701 older adults from Amazonas, Brazil. The HDL-C level was derived from fasting blood samples. In addition, we interviewed individuals on their education, past occupation, and cognitive leisure activity. Results: A critically low HDL-C level (<40 mg/dL) was significantly related to lower performance in working memory, immediate and delayed cued recall. Moderation analyses suggested that the relations of the HDL-C level to working memory and delayed cued recall were negligible in individuals with longer education, a higher cognitive level of the job, and greater engagement in cognitive leisure activity. Conclusion: Cognitive reserve accumulated during the life course may reduce the detrimental influences of a critically low HDL-C level on cognitive functioning in old age.

Cognitive Reserve and Social Capital Accrued in Early and Midlife Moderate the Relation of Psychological Stress to Cognitive Performance in Old Age

“…Specifically, the relations of psychological stress to cognitive performance were reduced in individuals with higher education, a higher cognitive level of the first profession practiced after education, a larger number of midlife leisure activities, a larger number of significant family members, and a larger number of close friends. This is in line with studies showing that cognitive reserve and social capital may offset the detrimental influences of physiological stress on cognitive functioning in old age [2, 12, 21, 36] and extends prior evidence suggesting that the relation of psychological stress to cognitive functioning is smaller in individuals with higher scores in a late-life proxy of cognitive reserve [37], with data based on a comprehensive set of key life course markers of cognitive reserve and social capital in a large sample of older adults in the present study.…”

“…Furthermore, we found that higher education, a higher cognitive level of the job, and greater engaging in leisure activities were related to better performance in the cognitive performance measures. This confirms the conceptual view that cognitive stimulation throughout the life course may contribute to cognitive reserve, thereby being related to better cognitive functioning in old age [2-17]. In line with prior evidence [20-26], we also found that having a larger number of significant family members and close friends was related to better cognitive performance, further corroborating the view that social capital is an important reserve in old age [18, 19, 45].…”

“…Notably, in line with that, recent empirical evidence suggests that cognitive reserve (in terms of e.g. higher education, higher cognitive level of job, and greater engaging in leisure activities) may offset the detrimental influences of strong physiological stressors such as metabolic syndromes and chronic diseases (e.g., unfavorable blood fat level, obesity, and hypertension) on cognitive performance (e.g., memory and executive functioning) in old age [2, 12, 36]. Likewise, with respect to compensation of physiological stressors by social capital, Bennett et al [21] found in a sample of 89 older adults that social network size moderated the negative association between Alzheimer disease pathology and cognitive performance (semantic memory and working memory).…”

“…A major goal in current gerontological research is to understand how interindividual differences in cognitive functioning in old age emerge [1, 2]. To address this issue, the present study set out to investigate interindividual differences in cognitive performance that are related to psychological stress and whether this pattern differs with respect to individuals’ cognitive reserve and social capital.…”

Associations of dyslipidaemia and lipid-lowering treatment with risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Dyslipidaemia also appears to cause POCD in animal studies 46. Further, dyslipidaemia is a relatively well-established risk factor for age-related cognitive impairment 7. On that basis, we had expected to find a link to POCD and can only speculate as to underlying reasons.…”