Body Mass Index, Cognition, Disability, APOE Genotype, and Mortality: The “Treviso Longeva” Study

• Published in: The American journal of geriatric psychiatry Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 594 - 602
• Main Authors: Gustafson, Deborah R., Ph.D, Mazzuco, Stephano, Ph.D, Ongaro, Fausta, Ph.D, Antuono, Piero, M.D, Forloni, Gianluigi, Ph.D, Albani, Diego, M.Sc, Gajo, Gian Battista, M.D, Durante, Elisabetta, Ph.D, Caberlotto, Livio, M.D, Zanardo, Andrea, Ph.D, Siculi, Marinella, Ph.D, Gallucci, Maurizio, M.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01.07.2012; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; ADL; Aged; aged 70; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - genetics; Aging - psychology; alzheimer-disease; APOE; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; BMI; Body Mass Index; cholesterol; cognition; Cognition - physiology; Disability Evaluation; Female; Genotype; Geriatrics; Geriatrik; Humans; incident dementia; Internal Medicine; late-life; longitudinal population; Male; Mortality; Neurologi; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data; Psychiatry; Psykiatri; risk; survival; united-states; weight; mortality; ADL; APOE; cognition; BMI
• ISSN: 1064-7481; 1545-7214
• DOI: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e31823031a4

Objectives The concurrent contributions of dynamic, interrelated late-life parameters, such as body mass index (BMI), cognition, and physical functioning on mortality in the elderly are unclear, as is the influence of APOE genotype. We explored these measures in relation to 7-year mortality in long-lived Italian elderly. Design A representative, age-stratified, population sample. Setting The Treviso Longeva (TRELONG) Study, in Treviso, Italy. Participants Three hundred eleven men and 357 women, aged 70 years and older (mean age 84 ± 8 years). Measurements Seven-year mortality, BMI, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), APOE genotype, and a variety of clinical and survey data. Results In separate age- and sex-adjusted analyses, BMI <18.5 kg/m2 , MMSE ≤24, and ADL <6, were associated with greater 7-year mortality among adults aged 70 years and older. In a multivariate model including all factors, MMSE ≤24, and ADL <6 were associated with greater mortality; BMI ≥30 kg/m2 was protective. There were no interactions between BMI, MMSE, or ADL. When excluding those dying within 3 years of baseline, only an MMSE ≤24 was related to mortality. APOEε4 was not related to mortality. Conclusion Higher MMSE score, higher ADL score, and higher BMI, independent of age, sex, and other factors, are markers for longer life among northern Italian adults aged 70 years or older. Global cognition, BMI, and physical functioning, assessed by short, simple tests are profound indicators of death within less than a decade.