Odelia Elkana1, Vitali Dayman1, Motty Franko1, Ariel Israel2, Ramit Ravona Springer3, Shlomo Segev4, Michal Schnaider Beeri2,5. 1. a Behavioral Sciences , Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo , Tel Aviv , Israel. 2. b The Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center, Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel. 3. c Department of Psychiatry , Sheba Medical Center , Israel. 4. d Institute of Medical Screening , Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer , Ramat Gan , Israel. 5. e The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , Department of Psychiatry , New York , NY , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the nature of the association of normal levels of total cholesterol with cognitive function and the contribution of age to this association. METHODS: A sample of 61 senior executives, who were summoned for an annual medical examination with approximately four measurements of total cholesterol during 4 years, were examined with a computerized cognitive battery assessing mental processing speed as a sensitive measure of cognitive decline. We examined the association of total cholesterol with processing speed and the moderating effect of age on this association. RESULTS: A multiple regression analysis yielded a significant interaction between cholesterol and age for processing speed (p = .045). In order to examine the source of the interaction, simple slope analysis was performed. A significant negative high correlation was found for young subjects (p = .021), while no significant correlation was observed at middle (p = .286) or older (p = .584) age. The difference in slopes was robust to adjustment for potential confounding factors, including body mass index, and fasting glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Within the normal range, higher total cholesterol levels were associated with better processing speed in younger ages and this association diminished with increasing age. Our findings highlight the important role of brain cholesterol in good cognitive functioning.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the nature of the association of normal levels of total cholesterol with cognitive function and the contribution of age to this association. METHODS: A sample of 61 senior executives, who were summoned for an annual medical examination with approximately four measurements of total cholesterol during 4 years, were examined with a computerized cognitive battery assessing mental processing speed as a sensitive measure of cognitive decline. We examined the association of total cholesterol with processing speed and the moderating effect of age on this association. RESULTS: A multiple regression analysis yielded a significant interaction between cholesterol and age for processing speed (p = .045). In order to examine the source of the interaction, simple slope analysis was performed. A significant negative high correlation was found for young subjects (p = .021), while no significant correlation was observed at middle (p = .286) or older (p = .584) age. The difference in slopes was robust to adjustment for potential confounding factors, including body mass index, and fasting glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Within the normal range, higher total cholesterol levels were associated with better processing speed in younger ages and this association diminished with increasing age. Our findings highlight the important role of brain cholesterol in good cognitive functioning.
Authors: Allison Anderson; Thiago C Genaro-Mattos; Luke B Allen; Katalin Koczok; Zeljka Korade; Karoly Mirnics Journal: Brain Res Date: 2021-02-15 Impact factor: 3.252