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Advanced glycation endproducts inversely linked to cognitive function
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An inverse relationship appears to exist between skin autofluorescence, a noninvasive marker of tissue advanced glycation end-products, and memory, according to recent study findings.
However, this association was diminished after controlling for vascular risk factors and depression, the researchers wrote.
The researchers evaluated 764 individuals with skin autofluorescence and 781 with plasma protein-bound advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) to determine the link between AGEs and cognitive functions.
The AGE reader was used to measure skin autofluorescence, and a 30-minute battery of cognitive tests were used to evaluate cognitive functioning.
The researchers found that after controlling for demographics, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, waist circumference, ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and use of lipid-lowering medication, a significant correlation existed between higher skin autofluorescence and delayed word recall (P=.04) and response inhibition scores (P=.04). Additional adjustment for systolic blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, estimated glomerular filtration rate and depression revealed weakened correlations for delayed word recall (P=.07) and response inhibition (P=.07).
After full adjustment, an association was found between higher levels of pentosidine and poorer global cognitive function (P=.04) but not between poorer global cognitive functioning and other plasma AGEs. There was no difference in these association found between participants with and without diabetes.
According to the researchers, further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanism of these associations.
“Our results may suggests that AGEs are involved in the development of cognitive decline, particularly memory decline, and possibly in part through the action of vascular risk factors,” the researchers wrote. “More longitudinal research is needed to examine the effect of tissue and plasma AGEs on decline in separate cognitive domains.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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