Juliana Nery Souza-Talarico1, Tania Marcourakis2, Fernando Barbosa3, Silvia Berlanga Moraes Barros4, Diogo Pineda Rivelli5, Sabine Pompéia6, Paulo Caramelli7, Pierrich Plusquellec8, Sonia J Lupien9, Raphael Fernandes Catucci10, Andrea Regiani Alves11, Deborah Suchecki12. 1. Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 419, São Paulo, SP 05403000, Brazil. Electronic address: junery@usp.br. 2. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP 05434070, Brazil. Electronic address: tmarcour@usp.br. 3. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040903, Brazil. Electronic address: fbarbosa@fcfrp.usp.br. 4. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP 05434070, Brazil. Electronic address: silviaberlanga@gmail.com. 5. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP 05434070, Brazil. Electronic address: diogopineda@gmail.com. 6. Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil. Electronic address: spompeia@gmail.com. 7. Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte, MG 30130100, Brazil. Electronic address: caramel@ufmg.br. 8. Centre for Studies on Human Stress, Mental Health Research Centre Fernand Seguin, Hospital Louis H. Lafontaine, Université de Montréal, 7401, rue Hochelaga, Montréal, Québec H1N 3M5, Canada. Electronic address: pierrich.plusquellec@umontreal.ca. 9. Centre for Studies on Human Stress, Mental Health Research Centre Fernand Seguin, Hospital Louis H. Lafontaine, Université de Montréal, 7401, rue Hochelaga, Montréal, Québec H1N 3M5, Canada. Electronic address: sonia.lupien@umontreal.ca. 10. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP 05434070, Brazil. 11. Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 419, São Paulo, SP 05403000, Brazil. Electronic address: aregiani@usp.br. 12. Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil. Electronic address: deborah.suchecki@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inverse associations have been observed between memory performance and blood concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Low antioxidant cell activity has also been linked to decline in memory due to aging. However, it has not yet been established whether the heavy metal-memory relationship is mediated by differences in antioxidant activity. METHODS: We examined Cd and Pb levels, as well as oxidative stress parameters, in blood samples from 125 older adults (age range 50-82years). The Counting Span Test (CST) was used to evaluate working memory capacity (WMC). The Monte Carlo Method for Assessing Mediation (MCMAM) was used to analyze the mediation role of antioxidant activity in the heavy metals-memory association. RESULTS: High blood Cd (BCd) concentration alone, and in combination with elevated blood Pb (BPb) concentration, was associated with poor WMC (p≤0.001) and low enzymatic antioxidant defenses (p≥0.006). The variance in WMC accounted for by BCd or by BCd combine with BPb was 20.6% and 18.6%, respectively. The MCMAM revealed that the influence of BCd and BPb concentrations on WMC was mediated by low antioxidant capacity (confidence interval - CI: 0.072 to -0.064 for BCd; CI: -0.062 to -0.045 for BPb). CONCLUSION: These findings showed Pb and Cd blood concentration in older adults, even at levels below the current recommended threshold, was negatively associated with WMC and that this relationship may be partly mediated by low antioxidant defenses. Knowledge on the environmental factors that negatively influence brain and cognition during aging can help inform public policy strategies to prevent and control the adverse effects of environmental contaminant exposure during aging.
BACKGROUND: Inverse associations have been observed between memory performance and blood concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Low antioxidant cell activity has also been linked to decline in memory due to aging. However, it has not yet been established whether the heavy metal-memory relationship is mediated by differences in antioxidant activity. METHODS: We examined Cd and Pb levels, as well as oxidative stress parameters, in blood samples from 125 older adults (age range 50-82years). The Counting Span Test (CST) was used to evaluate working memory capacity (WMC). The Monte Carlo Method for Assessing Mediation (MCMAM) was used to analyze the mediation role of antioxidant activity in the heavy metals-memory association. RESULTS: High blood Cd (BCd) concentration alone, and in combination with elevated blood Pb (BPb) concentration, was associated with poor WMC (p≤0.001) and low enzymatic antioxidant defenses (p≥0.006). The variance in WMC accounted for by BCd or by BCd combine with BPb was 20.6% and 18.6%, respectively. The MCMAM revealed that the influence of BCd and BPb concentrations on WMC was mediated by low antioxidant capacity (confidence interval - CI: 0.072 to -0.064 for BCd; CI: -0.062 to -0.045 for BPb). CONCLUSION: These findings showed Pb and Cd blood concentration in older adults, even at levels below the current recommended threshold, was negatively associated with WMC and that this relationship may be partly mediated by low antioxidant defenses. Knowledge on the environmental factors that negatively influence brain and cognition during aging can help inform public policy strategies to prevent and control the adverse effects of environmental contaminant exposure during aging.
Authors: Nasser Laouali; Tarik Benmarhnia; Bruce P Lanphear; Jennifer Weuve; Michael Mascari; Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault; Youssef Oulhote Journal: Environ Epidemiol Date: 2022-01-25