Obesity and Lowered Cognitive Performance in a Canadian First Nations Population

• Main Authors: Fergenbaum, Jennifer H., Bruce, Sharon, Lou, Wendy, Hanley, Anthony J.G., Greenwood, Carol, Young, T. Kue
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Cognition; Cognition Disorders; Epidemiology; First Nations; Obesity
• Online Access: https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/b069e9ef-d34c-44b9-946f-762c6e1bc0ae; https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-01qs-2j33

"The association between obesity, other cardiovascular risk factors, and cognitive function in a Canadian First Nations population was investigated using a cross‐sectional design. Eligible individuals were aged ≥18 years, without a history of stroke, nonpregnant, with First Nations status, and who had undergone cognitive function assessment by the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) and Trail Making Test Parts A and B. Parts A and B were combined into an Executive Function Score (TMT‐exec). Hypertension, a previous history of cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and the presence and duration of diabetes were examined in addition to obesity. In the case of TMT‐exec only, obese individuals were at an approximately fourfold increased risk for lowered cognitive performance compared to those who were not obese in multivariable models (odds ratio (OR): 3.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46–9.72) whereas there was no effect for overweight individuals compared to those with a normal weight in unadjusted analysis." (as cited in abstract)