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Lower cognitive function in the presence of obesity and hypertension: the Framingham heart study
Elias MF, Elias PK, Sullivan LM, Wolf PA, D'Agostino RB.. International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2003-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective To determine the independent effects of obesity and hypertension on cognitive functioning. Methods Using a prospective design, male (n=551) and female (n=872) participants of the Framingham Heart Study were classified by presence or absence of obesity and hypertension based on data collected over an 18-y surveillance period. All subjects were free from dementia, stroke, and clinically diagnosed cardiovascular disease up to the time of cognitive testing. Statistical models were adjusted for age, education, occupation, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, total cholesterol, and a diagnosis of type II diabetes. Body mass index status (nonobese or obese) and blood pressure status (normotensive or hypertensive) were then related to cognitive performance (learning, memory, executive functioning, and abstract reasoning) on tests administered 4-6 y later. Results Adverse effects of obesity and hypertension on cognitive performance were observed for men only. Obese and hypertensive men performed more poorly than men classified as either obese or hypertensive, and the best performance was observed in nonobese, normotensive men. Conclusions The adverse effects of obesity and hypertension in men are independent and cumulative with respect to cognitive deficit.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Elias, M. F., Elias, P. K., Sullivan, L. M., Wolf, P. A., & D'Agostino, R. B. (2003). Lower cognitive function in the presence of obesity and hypertension: the Framingham heart study. International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.802225
Vancouver
Elias MF, Elias PK, Sullivan LM, Wolf PA, D'Agostino RB. Lower cognitive function in the presence of obesity and hypertension: the Framingham heart study. International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2003. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.802225. PMID: 12587008.
BibTeX
@article{elias2003-12587008,
author = {Elias, M. F. and Elias, P. K. and Sullivan, L. M. and Wolf, P. A. and D'Agostino, R. B.},
title = {{Lower cognitive function in the presence of obesity and hypertension: the Framingham heart study}},
journal = {International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1038/sj.ijo.802225},
pmid = {12587008},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.802225}
}
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Key findings
- Results Adverse effects of obesity and hypertension on cognitive performance were observed for men only.
Why it matters
This study found that obesity and hypertension had adverse and cumulative effects on cognitive performance in men, but not in women, in the Framingham Heart Study. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants551
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Obesity: journal h-index 304 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2003 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 551 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 693 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 27.7 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 22 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 37 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Ralph B. D’Agostino: h-index 237 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Boston University: institution h-index 1,456 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter 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 12587008) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
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