Serum Zinc Concentration and Dietary Zinc Intake in Relation to Cognitive Function: an Analysis of the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Cohort

Overview

Journal Eur J Nutr

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2024 Jan 31

PMID 38294520

Authors

Meghan Angley

Yijia Zhang

Liping Lu

Shai Bejerano

Frederick Unverzagt

John Brockman

Leslie A McClure

Suzanne Judd

Mary Cushman

Ka Kahe

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: There are several pathways by which zinc may be a modifiable factor to slow age-related cognitive decline. We investigated the associations between serum and dietary zinc and cognitive impairment in a longitudinal cohort.

Methods: We used data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Cohort (n = 30,239) and the REGARDS Trace Element Study (n = 2666). Baseline serum zinc concentrations (2003-2007) were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Baseline dietary zinc intake was measured via the Block food frequency questionnaire. Serum zinc concentrations and dietary zinc intake were categorized into quartiles. The outcome of interest was impairment on the Six-Item Screener (SIS), a measure of global cognitive functioning administered annually. The Enhanced Cognitive Battery (ECB), a more comprehensive series of tests assessing memory and fluency, was administered every two years and considered a secondary outcome. Associations between zinc and incident impairment were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Among 2065 participants with serum zinc data, 184 individuals developed impairment over 10 years of follow-up. In adjusted models, there was no significant association between serum zinc and impairment as assessed by the SIS or the ECB. Among 18,103 participants who had dietary data, 1424 experienced incident impairment on the SIS. Dietary zinc intake was not significantly associated with impairment as assessed by the SIS or the ECB in adjusted models.

Conclusion: Findings from this U.S. cohort did not support the hypothesis that serum zinc concentration or dietary zinc intake is associated with the risk of cognitive impairment.

Citing Articles

Single and joint exposure of Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Cu, and Zn were associated with cognitive function of older adults.

Fu Z, Xu X, Cao L, Xiang Q, Gao Q, Duan H Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):28567.

PMID: 39558028 PMC: 11574263. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79720-5.

References

Matthews K, Xu W, Gaglioti A, Holt J, Croft J, Mack D . Racial and ethnic estimates of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in the United States (2015-2060) in adults aged ≥65 years. Alzheimers Dement. 2018; 15(1):17-24. PMC: 6333531. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3063. View

Dranitsaris G, Zhang Q, Quill A, Mu L, Weyrer C, Dysdale E . Treatment Preference for Alzheimer's Disease: A Multicriteria Decision Analysis with Caregivers, Neurologists, and Payors. Neurol Ther. 2022; 12(1):211-227. PMC: 9837350. DOI: 10.1007/s40120-022-00423-y. View

Xie Z, Wu H, Zhao J . Multifunctional roles of zinc in Alzheimer's disease. Neurotoxicology. 2020; 80:112-123. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.07.003. View

Hancock S, Finkelstein D, Adlard P . Glia and zinc in ageing and Alzheimer's disease: a mechanism for cognitive decline?. Front Aging Neurosci. 2014; 6:137. PMC: 4069481. DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00137. View

Kim J, Byun M, Yi D, Lee J, Kim M, Jung G . Serum zinc levels and in vivo beta-amyloid deposition in the human brain. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2021; 13(1):190. PMC: 8605596. DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00931-3. View

Ortega R, Requejo A, Andres P, Lopez-Sobaler A, Quintas M, Redondo M . Dietary intake and cognitive function in a group of elderly people. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997; 66(4):803-9. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/66.4.803. View

Ventriglia M, Brewer G, Simonelli I, Mariani S, Siotto M, Bucossi S . Zinc in Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Serum, Plasma, and Cerebrospinal Fluid Studies. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015; 46(1):75-87. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-141296. View

Socha K, Klimiuk K, Naliwajko S, Soroczynska J, Puscion-Jakubik A, Markiewicz-Zukowska R . Dietary Habits, Selenium, Copper, Zinc and Total Antioxidant Status in Serum in Relation to Cognitive Functions of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease. Nutrients. 2021; 13(2). PMC: 7909435. DOI: 10.3390/nu13020287. View

Wang Z, Tan L, Wang H, Ma J, Liu J, Tan M . Serum Iron, Zinc, and Copper Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Replication Study and Meta-Analyses. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015; 47(3):565-81. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-143108. View

10.

Markiewicz-Zukowska R, Gutowska A, Borawska M . Serum zinc concentrations correlate with mental and physical status of nursing home residents. PLoS One. 2015; 10(1):e0117257. PMC: 4311908. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117257. View

11.

Mravunac M, Szymlek-Gay E, Daly R, Roberts B, Formica M, Gianoudis J . Greater Circulating Copper Concentrations and Copper/Zinc Ratios are Associated with Lower Psychological Distress, But Not Cognitive Performance, in a Sample of Australian Older Adults. Nutrients. 2019; 11(10). PMC: 6836146. DOI: 10.3390/nu11102503. View

12.

Rembach A, Hare D, Doecke J, Burnham S, Volitakis I, Fowler C . Decreased serum zinc is an effect of ageing and not Alzheimer's disease. Metallomics. 2014; 6(7):1216-9. DOI: 10.1039/c4mt00060a. View

13.

Klinedinst B, Le S, Larsen B, Pappas C, Hoth N, Pollpeter A . Genetic Factors of Alzheimer's Disease Modulate How Diet is Associated with Long-Term Cognitive Trajectories: A UK Biobank Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2020; 78(3):1245-1257. PMC: 7895545. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201058. View

14.

Cherian L, Wang Y, Fakuda K, Leurgans S, Aggarwal N, Morris M . Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Diet Slows Cognitive Decline After Stroke. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2019; 6(4):267-273. PMC: 7199507. DOI: 10.14283/jpad.2019.28. View

15.

Howard V, Cushman M, Pulley L, Gomez C, Go R, Prineas R . The reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke study: objectives and design. Neuroepidemiology. 2005; 25(3):135-43. DOI: 10.1159/000086678. View

16.

Block G, Hartman A, Dresser C, CARROLL M, Gannon J, Gardner L . A data-based approach to diet questionnaire design and testing. Am J Epidemiol. 1986; 124(3):453-69. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114416. View

17.

Newby P, Noel S, Grant R, Judd S, Shikany J, Ard J . Race and region have independent and synergistic effects on dietary intakes in black and white women. Nutr J. 2012; 11:25. PMC: 3386860. DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-25. View

18.

Judd S, Letter A, Shikany J, Roth D, Newby P . Dietary Patterns Derived Using Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis are Stable and Generalizable Across Race, Region, and Gender Subgroups in the REGARDS Study. Front Nutr. 2015; 1:29. PMC: 4429641. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2014.00029. View

19.

Shikany J, Safford M, Newby P, Durant R, Brown T, Judd S . Southern Dietary Pattern is Associated With Hazard of Acute Coronary Heart Disease in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study. Circulation. 2015; 132(9):804-14. PMC: 4558233. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.014421. View

20.

Gillett S, Boyle R, Zakai N, McClure L, Jenny N, Cushman M . Validating laboratory results in a national observational cohort study without field centers: the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke cohort. Clin Biochem. 2014; 47(16-17):243-6. PMC: 5038129. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2014.08.003. View