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Investigating Modifiable Factors Associated with Cognitive Decline: Insights from the UK Biobank
Xiangge Ma, Hongjian Gao, Yutong Wu, Xinyu Zhu, Shuicai Wu, Lan Lin. Biomedicines, 2025-02-21
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Our findings revealed a significant impact of unfavorable medical and psychiatric histories on processing speed and visual episodic memory decline (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.20–1.51, p = 6.06 × 10⁻7; HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.22–1.86, p = 1.62 × 10⁻4, respectively). Furthermore, PAF analysis indicated that physiological and biochemical markers were the most critical risk category for preventing processing speed decline (PAF = 7.03%), while social and behavioral factors exerted the greatest influence on preventing visual episodic memory decline (PAF = 9.68%). Higher education, socioeconomic status, and handgrip strength emerged as protective factors, whereas high body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and depression were detrimental. By identifying this high-risk group and quantifying the impact of modifiable factors, this study provides valuable insights for developing targeted interventions to delay cognitive decline and improve public health outcomes in middle-aged and older adults.
Key findings
- Our findings revealed a significant impact of unfavorable medical and psychiatric histories on processing speed and visual episodic memory decline (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.20–1.51, p = 6.06 × 10⁻7; HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.22–1.86, p = 1.62 × 10⁻4, respectively).
- Furthermore, PAF analysis indicated that physiological and biochemical markers were the most critical risk category for preventing processing speed decline (PAF = 7.03%), while social and behavioral factors exerted the greatest influence on preventing visual episodic memory decline (PAF = 9.68%).
- Higher education, socioeconomic status, and handgrip strength emerged as protective factors, whereas high body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and depression were detrimental.
- By identifying this high-risk group and quantifying the impact of modifiable factors, this study provides valuable insights for developing targeted interventions to delay cognitive decline and improve public health outcomes in middle-aged and older adults.
Why it matters
Unfavourable medical and psychiatric histories were linked to faster decline in processing speed and visual episodic memory, while higher education, socioeconomic status, and handgrip strength appeared protective and high BMI, hypertension, and depression were detrimental. The authors say this can inform targeted interventions to delay cognitive decline.
Study details
- Participants453,950
- Effect sizeHR = 1.50; 7.03%; 9.68%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Biomedicines) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Biomedicines: journal h-index 133 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 453,950 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Lan Lin: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Beijing University of Technology: institution h-index 390 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40149525) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Ma, X., Gao, H., Wu, Y., Zhu, X., Wu, S., & Lin, L. (2025). Investigating Modifiable Factors Associated with Cognitive Decline: Insights from the UK Biobank. Biomedicines. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13030549
Vancouver
Ma X, Gao H, Wu Y, Zhu X, Wu S, Lin L. Investigating Modifiable Factors Associated with Cognitive Decline: Insights from the UK Biobank. Biomedicines. 2025. doi:10.3390/biomedicines13030549. PMID: 40149525.
BibTeX
@article{ma2025-40149525,
author = {Ma, Xiangge and Gao, Hongjian and Wu, Yutong and Zhu, Xinyu and Wu, Shuicai and Lin, Lan},
title = {{Investigating Modifiable Factors Associated with Cognitive Decline: Insights from the UK Biobank}},
journal = {Biomedicines},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/biomedicines13030549},
pmid = {40149525},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13030549}
}
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