Obesity and Neurocognitive Performance of Memory, Attention, and Executive Function
Background: Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of dementia in the future. Obesity is known to affect core neural structures, such as the hippocampus, and frontotemporal parts of the brain, and is linked to memory, attention, and executive function decline. The overwhelming majority of the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | NeuroSci |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4087/3/3/27 |
| _version_ | 1797484123524169728 |
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| author | Antonio G. Lentoor |
| author_facet | Antonio G. Lentoor |
| author_sort | Antonio G. Lentoor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of dementia in the future. Obesity is known to affect core neural structures, such as the hippocampus, and frontotemporal parts of the brain, and is linked to memory, attention, and executive function decline. The overwhelming majority of the data, however, comes from high-income countries. In undeveloped countries, there is little evidence of a link between obesity and neurocognition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BMI on the key cognitive functioning tasks of attention, memory, and executive function in a South African cohort. Methods: A total of 175 females (NW: BMI = 18.5–24.9 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and OB: BMI > 30.0 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) aged 18–59 years (M = 28, SD = 8.87 years) completed tasks on memory, attention, and executive functioning. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups. The participants who had a BMI corresponding with obesity performed poorly on the tasks measuring memory (<i>p</i> = 0.01), attention (<i>p</i> = 0.01), and executive function (<i>p</i> = 0.02) compared to the normal-weight group. Conclusions: When compared to normal-weight participants, the findings confirm the existence of lowered cognitive performance in obese persons on tasks involving planning, decision making, self-control, and regulation. Further research into the potential underlying mechanism by which obesity impacts cognition is indicated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:56:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46ac222dad31496690ff3d54b558bbfd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4087 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:56:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroSci |
| spelling | doaj.art-46ac222dad31496690ff3d54b558bbfd2023-11-23T18:08:48ZengMDPI AGNeuroSci2673-40872022-06-013337638610.3390/neurosci3030027Obesity and Neurocognitive Performance of Memory, Attention, and Executive FunctionAntonio G. Lentoor0Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South AfricaBackground: Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of dementia in the future. Obesity is known to affect core neural structures, such as the hippocampus, and frontotemporal parts of the brain, and is linked to memory, attention, and executive function decline. The overwhelming majority of the data, however, comes from high-income countries. In undeveloped countries, there is little evidence of a link between obesity and neurocognition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BMI on the key cognitive functioning tasks of attention, memory, and executive function in a South African cohort. Methods: A total of 175 females (NW: BMI = 18.5–24.9 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and OB: BMI > 30.0 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) aged 18–59 years (M = 28, SD = 8.87 years) completed tasks on memory, attention, and executive functioning. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups. The participants who had a BMI corresponding with obesity performed poorly on the tasks measuring memory (<i>p</i> = 0.01), attention (<i>p</i> = 0.01), and executive function (<i>p</i> = 0.02) compared to the normal-weight group. Conclusions: When compared to normal-weight participants, the findings confirm the existence of lowered cognitive performance in obese persons on tasks involving planning, decision making, self-control, and regulation. Further research into the potential underlying mechanism by which obesity impacts cognition is indicated.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4087/3/3/27body mass indexbrain functioncognitiondeveloping contextneuropsychological testsobesity |
| spellingShingle | Antonio G. Lentoor Obesity and Neurocognitive Performance of Memory, Attention, and Executive Function NeuroSci body mass index brain function cognition developing context neuropsychological tests obesity |
| title | Obesity and Neurocognitive Performance of Memory, Attention, and Executive Function |
| title_full | Obesity and Neurocognitive Performance of Memory, Attention, and Executive Function |
| title_fullStr | Obesity and Neurocognitive Performance of Memory, Attention, and Executive Function |
| title_full_unstemmed | Obesity and Neurocognitive Performance of Memory, Attention, and Executive Function |
| title_short | Obesity and Neurocognitive Performance of Memory, Attention, and Executive Function |
| title_sort | obesity and neurocognitive performance of memory attention and executive function |
| topic | body mass index brain function cognition developing context neuropsychological tests obesity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4087/3/3/27 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT antonioglentoor obesityandneurocognitiveperformanceofmemoryattentionandexecutivefunction |