Serum Uric Acid and Its Association with Longitudinal Cognitive Change Among Urban Adults

Abstract

Uric acid, a waste metabolite among humans, was linked to various cognitive outcomes. We describe sex and age-group specific associations of baseline serum uric acid (SUAbase) and significant change in SUA (ΔSUA: 1 versus 0 = decrease versus no change; 2 versus 0 = increase versus no change) with longitudinal annual rate of cognitive change among a large sample of urban adults. Data from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study, 2004-2009 (visit 1) and 2009-2013 (visit 2) were used. Of 3,720 adults selected at baseline (age range: 30-64 y), complete data were available for N = 1,487-1,602 with a mean repeat of 1.5-1.7 visits/participant. Cognitive test domains spanned attention, processing speed, learning/memory, executive function, visuo-spatial/visuo-construction ability, language/verbal, and global cognitive function. SUA was measured at both visits. Multiple mixed-effects regression analyses were conducted. In the total population, a higher SUAbase was associated with a faster annual rate of decline on a measure of visual memory/visuo-construction ability (the Benton Visual Retention Test) by γ= 0.07 with a standard error of 0.02, p < 0.001. Among older men, a significant increase in SUA was associated with slower decline on a test of attention/processing speed, namely Trailmaking test, Part A, measured in seconds to completion (γ= -6.91 ± 1.73, p < 0.001). In sum, a higher SUAbase was associated with faster cognitive decline over-time in a visual memory/visuo-construction ability test. ΔSUA had particular beneficial effects of an increasing ΔSUA on the domain of attention/processing speed among older men. More longitudinal studies are needed to examine cognitive domain-specific effects of over-time change in SUA within sex and age groups.

Keywords: Aging; cognition; serum uric acid; sex differences.

Figures

FIGURE 1

A. Baseline serum uric acid (SUAbase) and it association with longitudinal cognitive change over-time on the BVRT number of errors: mixed-effects regression model, HANDLS, 2004–2013 B. Scatterplot and LOWESS curves of observed BVRT number of errors by time at two observed level of serum uric acid (SUAbase, lowest quintile (Q1) and uppermost quintile (Q5)). HANDLS, 2004–2013 Q1: 1.6–4.1 mg/dL; Q5: 6.8–14.2 mg/dL

FIGURE 1

A. Baseline serum uric acid (SUAbase) and it association with longitudinal cognitive change over-time on the BVRT number of errors: mixed-effects regression model, HANDLS, 2004–2013 B. Scatterplot and LOWESS curves of observed BVRT number of errors by time at two observed level of serum uric acid (SUAbase, lowest quintile (Q1) and uppermost quintile (Q5)). HANDLS, 2004–2013 Q1: 1.6–4.1 mg/dL; Q5: 6.8–14.2 mg/dL

FIGURE 2

Stable, decreased and Increased serum uric acid (ΔSUA) and their association with longitudinal cognitive change over-time on Trailmaking, Part A (sec.), (older men): mixed-effects regression model , HANDLS, 2004–2013