Genetic Underpinnings of Increased BMI and Its Association With Late Midlife Cognitive Abilities.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: First, we test for differences in various cognitive abilities across trajectories of body mass index (BMI) over the later life course. Second, we examine whether genetic risk factors for unhealthy BMIs-assessed via polygenic risk scores (PRS)-predict cognitive abilities in late-life. Methods: The study used a longitudinal sample of Vietnam veteran males to explore the associations between BMI trajectories, measured across four time points, and later cognitive abilities. The sample of 977 individuals was drawn from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. Cognitive abilities evaluated included executive function, abstract reasoning, episodic memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, and visual spatial ability. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate t

SUBMITTER: Xian H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7268925 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature