Indoor incense burning impacts cognitive functions and brain functional connectivity in community older adults

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 7090
• Main Authors: Wong, Adrian, Lou, Wutao, Ho, Kin-fai, Yiu, Brian Ka-fung, Lin, Shi, Chu, Winnie Chiu-wing, Abrigo, Jill, Lee, Dustin, Lam, Bonnie Yin-ka, Au, Lisa Wing-chi, Soo, Yannie Oi-yan, Lau, Alexander Yuk-lun, Kwok, Timothy Chi-yui, Leung, Thomas Wai-hong, Lam, Linda Chui-wa, Ho, Ko, Mok, Vincent Chung-tong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 27.04.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/1689; 692/499; 692/699/375/1370; 692/699/375/365; 692/699/375/599; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air Pollution, Indoor - adverse effects; Burning; China - epidemiology; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnostic imaging; Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology; Connectome; Dementia disorders; Diabetes mellitus; Female; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hyperlipidemia; Incense; Longitudinal Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; multidisciplinary; Neural networks; Older people; Pollutants; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Structure-function relationships; Substantia alba; Vascular diseases; White Matter - diagnostic imaging; White Matter - physiopathology; China
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63568-6

To investigate (1) the effects of indoor incense burning upon cognition over 3 years; (2) the associations between indoor incense burning with the brain’s structure and functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN); and (3) the interactions between indoor incense burning and vascular disease markers upon cognitive functions. Community older adults without stroke or dementia were recruited (n = 515). Indoor incense use was self-reported as having burnt incense at home ≥ weekly basis over the past 5 years. Detailed neuropsychological battery was administered at baseline (n = 227) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment at baseline and year 3 (n = 515). MRI structural measures and functional connectivity of the DMN were recorded at baseline. Demographic and vascular risk factors and levels of outdoor pollutants were treated as covariates. Indoor incense burning was associated with reduced performance across multiple cognitive domains at baseline and year 3 as well as decreased connectivity in the DMN. It interacted with diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and white matter hyperintensities to predict poorer cognitive performance. Indoor incense burning is (1) associated with poorer cognitive performance over 3 years; (2) related to decreased brain connectivity; and (3) it interacts with vascular disease to predispose poor cognitive performance.