Those who have metabolic syndrome share a number of specific characteristics. Some of these factors include excess fat around the middle, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol.
Other factors are elevated C-reactive protein in the blood, and high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor1 in the blood. Metabolic syndrome can lead to coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, preripheral vascular disease and stroke.
But it appears that metabolic syndrome can also affect how you think and how you feel.
Seniors with metabolic syndrome have a higher than normal risk for problems with their memory and other cognitive dysfunction. So said a study from France that was published in the February 2, 2011 issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
For the French study, more than 7,000 people were studied, for three or more risk factors for metabolic syndrome, with tests of cognitive function and memory. They were tested after two years and again after another four years.
Cognitive dysfunction was 20 percent more likely in those with metabolic syndrome. Problems with the visual working memory test occured 13 percent more often in those with metabolic syndrome.
Those with lower memory results had low HDL cholesterol and higher triglycerides. Researchers hypothesize that metabolic syndrome can contribute to memory loss and even dementia. Further, they posited that controlling metabolic syndrome could decrease these problems.
But wait. As if this wasn't severe enough, there's more.
Metabolic syndrome can be found in 8 percent to 56 percent of people with bipolar disorder, according to an article on Biomedsearch.com. Research indicated that bipolar patients who had metabolic syndrome are at greater risk for higher mortality and morbidity than people who do not have bipolar disorder, and who do not have metabolic syndrome.
An April, 2011 study by Ohaeri in PubMed reported that metabolic syndrome occurs two to three times more often in people with severe mental disorders than among the rest of the population.
Another April, 2011 study in PubMed by Akbaraly also said that both metabolic syndrome and depression tend to increase in the elderly. Research found that metabolic syndrome was linked with new-onset depressive symptoms in seniors who were between the ages of 65 and 70 years, though such a link was not found for those older than 70 years.
This research was performed on 4,446 people between 65 and 91 years of age.
A May, 2011 study by Vogelzangs in PubMed reported on research that found a link between metabolic syndrome and depression that is ongoing or recurring. Those with larger waistlines had higher risk for onset of depression, though a link between depression onset and other elements of metabolic syndrome was not seen.
Depression associated with metabolic dysfunction, also called metabolic depression, may be considered a chronic subtype of depression, according to researchers.
Fortunately, metabolic syndrome may be reversible through dietary and lifestyle changes.
Sources:
Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Memory Loss in Older People. Sciencedaily.com. Retrieved Jan. 25, 2012.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110202162039.htm
Metabolic Syndrome Can Cause Memory Loss. Thirdage.com. Retrieved Jan. 25, 2012.
http://www.thirdage.com/brain-fitness/metabolic-syndrome-can-cause-memor...
Ohaeri JU, et al. Metabolic syndrome in severe mental disorders. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2011 Apr;9(2):91-8. Epub 2010 Oct 21. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20964513
Bipolar disorder and metabolic syndrome: comorbidity or side effects of treatment of bipolar disorder. Biomedsearch.com. Retrieved Jan. 25, 2012.
http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/Bipolar-disorder-metabolic-syndrome-como...
Akbaraly TN, Ancelin ML, Jaussent I, Ritchie C, Barberger-Gateau P, Dufouil C, Kivimaki M, Berr C, Ritchie K. Metabolic syndrome and onset of depressive symptoms in the elderly: findings from the three-city study. Diabetes Care. 2011 Apr;34(4):904-9. Epub 2011 Feb 23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21346185
Vogelzangs N, Beekman AT, Boelhouwer IG, Bandinelli S, Milaneschi Y, Ferrucci L, Penninx BW. Metabolic depression: a chronic depressive subtype? Findings from the InCHIANTI study of older persons. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 May;72(5):598-604. Epub 2011 Apr 5. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21535996
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Reviewed January 26, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN