Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning

Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Stanek, Kelly Marie
Language:English
Published: Kent State University / OhioLINK 2011
Subjects:
Psychology
Obesity
cognitive dysfunction
aging
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1308527788
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent13085277882021-08-03T05:37:44Z Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning Stanek, Kelly Marie Psychology Obesity cognitive dysfunction aging Cognitive dysfunction and structural brain abnormalities have been observed in obese versus lean individuals, but with variability across age and weight groups. This study was designed to clarify the cognitive profile of obesity by examining performance across multiple cognitive domains in adults with wide-ranging age and weight status. A total of 732 participants (60% women; ages 18-87; BMI range 19-75) underwent assessment of cognitive functioning and relevant medical/demographic covariates. Neuropsychological tests were grouped by cognitive domain (via confirmatory factor analysis), and standardized scores were averaged into composite variables. Hierarchical linear regression analyses examined main effects of BMI, as well as an interaction between BMI and aging, in predicting these cognitive domains. Significant main effects for BMI were observed for motor and attention/processing speed, whereas a significant interaction between BMI and age was observed for predicting executive functioning. BMI was not independently associated with memory or language functioning and no interaction effects were observed for these variables. Results indicate that BMI is independently associated with decreased attention, processing speed, and fine motor speed, but not memory or language, across the adult lifespan. Although BMI was not independently related to executive dysfunction, a significant age x BMI interaction suggests that obesity-related executive deficits may increase with age. Overall, these findings support a hypothesized primary frontosubcortical pathology that manifests itself gradually from slowing to more evident executive deficits with age in obese individuals. Prospective studies should explore these possibilities. 2011-06-27 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1308527788 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1308527788 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Psychology
Obesity
cognitive dysfunction
aging
spellingShingle Psychology
Obesity
cognitive dysfunction
aging
Stanek, Kelly Marie
Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning
author Stanek, Kelly Marie
author_facet Stanek, Kelly Marie
author_sort Stanek, Kelly Marie
title Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning
title_short Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning
title_full Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning
title_fullStr Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning
title_full_unstemmed Body Mass Index, Age, and Neurocognitive Functioning
title_sort body mass index, age, and neurocognitive functioning
publisher Kent State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2011
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1308527788
work_keys_str_mv AT stanekkellymarie bodymassindexageandneurocognitivefunctioning
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