Association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis from CHARLS

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the association between A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.Patients and methodsWe analyzed baseline data from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including 6,762 participant...

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Main Authors: Guotao Liu, Qiong Xu, Suhua Zhang, Jianyuan Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1589898/full
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author Guotao Liu
Qiong Xu
Suhua Zhang
Jianyuan Zhang
Jianyuan Zhang
author_facet Guotao Liu
Qiong Xu
Suhua Zhang
Jianyuan Zhang
Jianyuan Zhang
author_sort Guotao Liu
collection DOAJ
description PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the association between A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.Patients and methodsWe analyzed baseline data from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including 6,762 participants aged ≥45 years. The modified ABSI of adults in China was calculated using waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and height. Cognitive function was assessed through episodic memory and cognitive status tests, with impairment defined as a composite score ≤11. Multivariate logistic regression, fitted smoothing curves, and subgroup analysis were employed to evaluate the associations and interactions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the diagnostic performance of ABSI, BMI, and WC.ResultsAfter full adjustment, each 0.01-unit ABSI increase conferred a 45.7% higher risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 1.457). Participants in the highest ABSI quartile had a 48.3% higher risk compared to the lowest quartile (p for trend < 0.001). Dose–response analysis revealed a positive relationship (p < 0.001) between ABSI and cognitive impairment. ABSI demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy (Area Under the Curve [AUC] = 0.603) compared to BMI (AUC = 0.570) and WC (AUC = 0.548).ConclusionElevated ABSI independently predicts cognitive impairment in Chinese middle-aged and older adults. ABSI demonstrates better diagnostic accuracy compared to BMI and WC. These findings highlight ABSI’s utility as a cost-effective anthropometric tool for cognitive risk stratification in aging populations.
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spelling doaj-art-0ceb6cc10e7d4a5e98f478203bf8cc832025-08-20T03:19:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-06-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15898981589898Association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis from CHARLSGuotao Liu0Qiong Xu1Suhua Zhang2Jianyuan Zhang3Jianyuan Zhang4Department of Health Care, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Health Care, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Health Care, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, ChinaQingdao Clinical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Qingdao, ChinaPurposeThis study aimed to investigate the association between A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.Patients and methodsWe analyzed baseline data from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including 6,762 participants aged ≥45 years. The modified ABSI of adults in China was calculated using waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and height. Cognitive function was assessed through episodic memory and cognitive status tests, with impairment defined as a composite score ≤11. Multivariate logistic regression, fitted smoothing curves, and subgroup analysis were employed to evaluate the associations and interactions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the diagnostic performance of ABSI, BMI, and WC.ResultsAfter full adjustment, each 0.01-unit ABSI increase conferred a 45.7% higher risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 1.457). Participants in the highest ABSI quartile had a 48.3% higher risk compared to the lowest quartile (p for trend < 0.001). Dose–response analysis revealed a positive relationship (p < 0.001) between ABSI and cognitive impairment. ABSI demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy (Area Under the Curve [AUC] = 0.603) compared to BMI (AUC = 0.570) and WC (AUC = 0.548).ConclusionElevated ABSI independently predicts cognitive impairment in Chinese middle-aged and older adults. ABSI demonstrates better diagnostic accuracy compared to BMI and WC. These findings highlight ABSI’s utility as a cost-effective anthropometric tool for cognitive risk stratification in aging populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1589898/fullA Body Shape IndexABSIcognitive impairmentCHARLScross-sectional study
spellingShingle Guotao Liu
Qiong Xu
Suhua Zhang
Jianyuan Zhang
Jianyuan Zhang
Association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis from CHARLS
Frontiers in Nutrition
A Body Shape Index
ABSI
cognitive impairment
CHARLS
cross-sectional study
title Association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis from CHARLS
title_full Association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis from CHARLS
title_fullStr Association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis from CHARLS
title_full_unstemmed Association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis from CHARLS
title_short Association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis from CHARLS
title_sort association of a modified body shape index with cognitive impairment in middle aged and elderly chinese adults a cross sectional analysis from charls
topic A Body Shape Index
ABSI
cognitive impairment
CHARLS
cross-sectional study
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1589898/full
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