Triglycerides are negatively correlated with cognitive function in nondemented aging adults.

Abstract

Objective Vascular risk factors like hyperlipidemia may adversely affect brain function. We hypothesized that increased serum triglycerides are associated with decreased executive function and memory in non-demented elderly subjects. We also researched possible vascular mediators and white matter microstructure as assessed with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Design/Methods Participants were 251 non-demented elderly adults (54% male) with a mean age of 78 (SD=6.4; range: 62–94) years and a mean education of 15.6 (SD=2.9; range: 8–23) years. Fasting blood samples were used to detect serum triglyceride and LDL levels along with ApoE4 status. DTI was used to determine whole brain fractional anisotropy (FA). Composite executive (EXEC) and memory (MEM) scores were derived from item response theory. Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores provided informant-based measures of daily functioning. Results Triglyceride levels were inversely correlated with executive function, but there was no relationship with memory. Controlling for age, gender, and education did not affect this correlation. This relationship persisted after controlling for vascular risk factors like LDL, total cholesterol, CDR and ApoE4 status. Lastly, adding whole brain FA to the model did not affect the correlation between triglycerides and executive function. Conclusions Triglyceride levels are inversely correlated with executive function in non-demented elderly adults after controlling for age, education, gender, total cholesterol, LDL, ApoE4 status, CDR, and white matter microstructure. The fact that the effect of triglycerides on cognition was not clearly mediated by vascular risks or cerebrovascular injury raises questions about widely held assumptions of how triglycerides might impact cognition function.

Plasma lipidomic biomarker analysis reveals distinct lipid changes in vascular dementia

“…We also found significantly higher plasma TG levels in VaD subjects. Numerous studies have indicated a relationship between high TG levels and poor cognitive performance in diabetic patients [48] , [49] . A similar finding was reported in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study in which a 1 SD increase in TG levels during midlife significantly increased the risk of dementia a quarter of a decade later [50] .…”

Age-related changes and effects of regular low-intensity exercise on gait, balance, and oxidative biomarkers in the spinal cord of Wistar rats

“…Commercially available kits (LABTEST, Brazil) were used for these assays. Triglycerides were assessed because their levels are inversely correlated with executive function in non-demented elderly adults after controlling for age, vascular risk factors, and fiber tract integrity (20).…”

Associations of Lipid Levels and Cognition: Findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

“…For example, while TC and LDL-C did not contribute to cognitive impairment for Hispanics/Latinos of Caribbean background (Reitz et al, 2008), a Brazilian study reported associations between lower HDL-C and lower declarative and working memory (Ihle et al, 2017). A study of a heterogeneous group of older adults fluent in English reported a negative association between TG levels and executive functioning but not memory (Parthasarathy et al, 2017). These studies lay the foundation for a comprehensive investigation of the relationship between lipid levels (i.e., TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG) and cognition within a large cohort study of Hispanics/Latinos from multiple backgrounds.…”

“…All but one (Del Brutto et al, 2016) found that individual lipid levels contributed to these cognitive profiles. More directed studies either including (Reitz et al, 2008) or exclusively composed of Hispanics/Latinos (Ihle et al, 2017;Parthasarathy et al, 2017) reported differing results based on the lipid level and/or background studied. For example, while TC and LDL-C did not contribute to cognitive impairment for Hispanics/Latinos of Caribbean background (Reitz et al, 2008), a Brazilian study reported associations between lower HDL-C and lower declarative and working memory (Ihle et al, 2017).…”