Cognitive Performance is correlated with Serum Lipoproteins

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
M. N. Talebi 1
R. Soofi 2
S. Lohrasbi 3
M. Erfani 4
1 Head of the Cognitive Emotional Department, Iran Football Medical Assessment and Rehabilitation Center (IFMARK)
2 Tarbiat Modares University
3 Head of the Vesal Rehabilitation Center
4 Shahid Beheshti University
Abstract
Introduction: Emerging evidence suggests that lipoproteins levels are associated with cognitive health. This study examines the relationship between lipoprotein levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and young adults. It addresses the impact of abnormal lipid levels and hypercholesterolemia on cognitive impairment.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study involving 123 healthy security guards aging 20- 60 years old. Lipid profiles included total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured in serum. EEG recording was used to obtain the cognitive indicators of attention, memory, salience, language, mood and executive function. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between lipoproteins and cognitive indices.

Results: A significant relationship with executive function was found for TC (r = -0.2944, p = 0.0202) and LDL (r = -0.3687, p = 0.0032). Additionally, a significant relationship was found between attention and serum HDL levels (r = -0.1987, p = 0.0296). In middle-aged security guards, there was a significant correlation between attention and TC (r = -0.4338, p = 0.0187) and LDL (r = -0.3909, p = 0.0360). Also, there was a significant correlation between executive function and TC (r = -0.5475, p = 0.0368) as well as LDL (r = -0.6709, p = 0.0077).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that executive function and attention are key cognitive indices significantly linked to lipoproteins. In the middle-age group, higher TC and LDL levels correlated with lower cognitive scores compared to the general population, indicating a potential role of lipoprotein factors in cognition.

Keywords

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Pathobiology Reserach
Volume 25, Issue 2
February 2022
Pages 55-65