Title:Inflammation, Oxidation, Caloric Expenditure and Cognitive Impairment in Brazilian Elderly Assisted at Primary Care
VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 9
Author(s):Guilherme M. Nogueira, Carla H.A. Schwanke, Vera E. Closs, Bruna Luz, Rafael N. Moresco, Etiane Tatsch, Guilherme V. Bochi, Joao F.D. de Moraes, Camila B. Jacondino, Irenio Gomes and Maria G.V. Gottlieb
Affiliation:Graduate Program of Biomedical Gerontology, Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (IGG-PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6690, 81, 7°floor, Porto Alegre, Zipcode: 90610-000, RS – Brazil.
Keywords:Aging, antioxidant, caloric expenditure, cognitive impairment, inflammation, oxidation.
Abstract:Cognitive impairment (CI) has a multifactorial etiology. Some studies have suggested that inflammatory, oxidative
and antioxidant status and physical activity are associated with CI. However, the evidence on this subject is still
controversial. The goal of this study was to verify the association of caloric expenditure by physical activity, oxidative,
antioxidant power and inflammatory biomarkers with CI in older adults. We performed a cross-sectional study of 424
elderly (224 with normal cognitive function and 200 with CI) patients from the Family Health Strategy in Porto Alegre,
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The variables investigated were sociodemographic, biochemical, inflammatory (hs-CRP, IL-6),
oxidative (TBARS, AOPP), antioxidant power (FRAP) biomarkers, energy expenditure, and cognitive function. The instruments
used were the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire + Compendium of Physical Activities,
classification of energy costs of human physical activities (for physical activity evaluation and measurement of energy
expenditure in METs), and a battery of neuropsychiatric instruments (for cognitive ability assessment). We found statistically
significant differences only with respect to HDL-c and age (higher averages in the CI group; P<0.05). We observed
no differences between the groups with respect to biochemical, inflammatory, oxidative and FRAP biomarkers or caloric
expenditure. Logistic regression showed that HDL-c (OR=1.02 [IC=95%; 1.01-1.04]; P=0.011), and age (OR=1.05
[IC=95%; 1.02–1.08]; P=0.004) are independent factors associated with CI. Our results suggest that the biochemical (except
HDL-c), inflammatory, oxidative, and FRAP biomarkers investigated and caloric expenditure are not associated with
CI in the elderly assisted at primary care.
