Lead Exposure Biomarkers and Mini-Mental Status Exam Scores in Older Men

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hu H ; McDonald K ; Schwartz J ; Spiro A III ; Tsaih SW ; Weiss ST ; Wright RO
• Description:
  Background: Lead is neurotoxic; yet, whether cognitive decline in older persons is associated with lead exposure is unknown. We studied whether lead exposure biomarkers are associated with cognitive test scores, as well as the modifying effects of age on the lead-cognition relationship. Methods: Lead exposure biomarkers and Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) scores were measured among subjects in the Normative Aging Study. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the cross-sectional association of these 2 variables. Results: We found an odds ratio (OR) of 2.1 for MMSE <24 with an increase from the lowest to the highest quartile of patella lead levels (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1 to 4.1). From the lowest to the highest quartile of blood lead the OR for low MMSE was 3.4 (CI = 1.6 to 6.2). There was an interaction between lead biomarkers and age. Among subjects in the lowest quartile of patella lead levels, MMSE score decreased by 0.03 points per year (CI = -0.07 to 0.005), whereas in the highest quartile, MMSE score decreased by 0.13 points per year (CI = -0.19 to -0.07). Similar interactions were found between blood lead levels and age. Conclusions: Increased levels of lead in bone and blood are inversely associated with cognitive performance among older men. Lead exposure might accelerate age-associated cognitive decline. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Biomarkers Environmental Exposure Lead Men Mental Disorders Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Lead Blood Lead Levels Cognition Cognitive Function Exposure Levels Humans Lead Compounds Mental Disorders Mini-Mental Status Examination Neurotoxic Effects Neurotoxins Risk Factors

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• ISSN:
  1044-3983
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  14
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059943
• Citation:
  Epidemiology 2003 Nov; 14(6):713-718
• Contact Point Address:
  Robert O. Wright, The Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
• Email:
  robert.wright@channing.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20030701
• Source Full Name:
  Epidemiology
• End Date:
  20050630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a9f8c940032dffe56851c2ce300761b4dfe669515bc122bea6ec391b3db9fb1bde42d1183b3d6008911863ba7bdf61da77ea23ae23cd2cb7d37309d322179114
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223996/cdc_223996_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 232.12 KB ]