Metabolic Syndrome Could Spike Risk for Cognitive Impairment

A large study involving almost 5,000 older women showed that those with metabolic syndrome had a 66% higher risk of developing cognitive impairment than women who did not have metabolic syndrome.

The study, conducted jointly by the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco defined metabolic syndrome as "the presence of three or more of five symptoms: abdominal obesity, elevated blood triglycerides (fatty acids), reduced HDL or 'good' cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes."

Interestingly, no individual symptom other than diabetes was associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment, but when more than one symptom was present, each additional symptom added 23% greater risk.

The news is a bit sobering considering that 45% of American adults between the ages of 60 and 70 are believed to have metabolic syndrome. The good news is that all five symptoms of metabolic syndrome are manageable; some are even preventable or reversible. But more research is needed to determine whether managing or reversing symptoms will reduce risk of cognitive impairment or if the damage has already been done. Once again, prevention seems to be the key.

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