Have you ever heard of the metabolic syndrome in reference to cognitive impairment? Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person...this means that if you have three or more of five symptoms, you have the syndrome and a 66% higher risk of developing cognitive impairment than women who do not have syndrome. According to a large study done by the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California and published in the March, 2009 issue of Archives of Neurology, the metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of three or more of the following symptoms: abdominal obesity, elevated blood triglycerides (fatty acids), reduced HDL or 'good' cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes.

Interestingly enough, if each symptom is examined by itself, diabetes is the only one of the five symptoms that is normally associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment. But, when more than one symptom is present, each additional symptom adds a 23% greater risk. This means that it is important for older folks with the metabolic syndrome to be screened early for cognitive impairment (and that the different symptoms of the syndrome should be treated early and aggressively, before a woman becomes post-menopausal).

The news is quite thought provoking, considering that 45% of American adults between the ages of 60 and 70 are believed to have metabolic syndrome. In fact, many 45-50 year old men and women are already exhibiting three of the five symptoms. The good news is that all five symptoms of metabolic syndrome are manageable, and most are even preventable or reversible. But more research is needed to determine whether managing or reversing symptoms will reduce the risk or if the damage has already been done. Once again, prevention is without a doubt much better than a cure.