Association between Obesity Indices and MMSE-K in Elderly

Hyun-Joo Lee; Hee-Yeon Choi; Kyu Wol Yun; Young Chul Kim; Weon-Jeong Lim; Ji Hyun Kim; Soo In Kim

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2013.52.6.447

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.52(6) > 1017661

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Lee, Choi, Yun, Kim, Lim, Kim, and Kim: Association between Obesity Indices and MMSE-K in Elderly

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2013; 52(6): 447-453.

Published online: 30 November 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2013.52.6.447

Association between Obesity Indices and MMSE-K in Elderly

Hyun-Joo Lee, MD, Hee-Yeon Choi, MD, Kyu Wol Yun, MD, PhD, Young Chul Kim, MD, PhD, Weon-Jeong Lim, MD, PhD, Ji Hyun Kim, MD, Soo In Kim, MD, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Soo In Kim, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, 1071 Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 158-710, Korea. Tel +82-2-2650-2821, Fax +82-2-2650-5164, 72sooik@ewha.ac.kr

Received 13 September 2013 Revised 19 October 2013 Accepted 22 October 2013

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between obesity indices and cognitive functions using data from individuals older than 65 years in South Korea.

Methods

A total of 151 Koreans older than 65 years participated in this study voluntarily. Obesity was determined using body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K). The participants were divided into four groups according to BMI : underweight (BMI<18.5), normal (18.5≤BMI<23.0), overweight (23.0≤BMI<25.0), and obesity (BMI≥25.0), and two groups according to WHR : normal (WHR<18.5) and abdominal obesity (WHR≥0.8). Baseline characteristics were compared among different BMI or WHR subgroups.

Results

Older age and smoking habits showed an association with poor cognitive function. Among different BMI groups, the overweight group had the highest scores of MMSE-K ; the item scores for time and place orientation (4.48±0.770 and 4.80±0.500) and attention/calculation (4.00±1.258) as well as total score (25.88±2.877). Overweight in BMI showed an association with better cognitive function (OR_adjusted=0.098, 95% confidence interval=0.017-0.577).

Conclusion

In this study, the overweight group measured by BMI showed better cognitive function than other groups. Overweight in elderly might be acceptable in order to maintain cognitive performance. Further investigation regarding the underlying mechanism explaining the relationship between cognitive function and body weight will be needed.

Keywords: Elderly, Obesity, Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Baseline characteristics according to the cognitive function

^* : p<0.05 by the correlation analysis (Pearson's correlation coefficient=-0.286), ^† : p<0.001 by the one-way analysis of variance. MMSE-K : Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination

Table 2

Cognitive function using MMSE-K and item scores among different BMI groups

^* : p<0.05 by the 1-way analysis of variance. MMSE-K : Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, BMI : Body mass index

Table 3

Association between BMI and poor cognitive function (MMSE-K<24)

Logistic regression analysis : Wald Δ with d.f.=1 was used. Model 1 : adjustment made with socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, education levels, marital status and children) ; Model 2 : adjustment made with lifestyle characteristics (smoking habits, alcohol consumption and exercises) ; Model 3 : adjustment made with clinical status (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke, psychiatric history and trauma) ; Model 4 : adjustment made with all factors above. ^* : p<0.05. OR : Odds ratio, CI : Confidence interval, MMSE-K : Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, BMI : Body mass index

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