TY - JOUR
T1 - Regional specific groundwater arsenic levels and neuropsychological functioning
T2 - A cross-sectional study
AU - Edwards, Melissa
AU - Johnson, Leigh
AU - Mauer, Cortney
AU - Barber, Robert
AU - Hall, James
AU - Obryant, Sid
PY - 2014/11/2
Y1 - 2014/11/2
N2 - Background: The purpose of the study was to examine the link between geographic information system (GIS)-estimated regional specific groundwater levels and neuropsychological functioning in a sample of individuals with and without cognitive impairment. Methods: This cross-sectional study design analyzed data from 1390 participants (733 Alzheimers disease, 127 Mild Cognitive Impairment, and 530 with normal cognition) enrolled in the Texas Alzheimers Research and Care Consortium. GISs analyses were used to estimate regional specific groundwater arsenic concentrations using the Environmental Systems Research Institute and arsenic concentrations from the Texas Water Development Board. Results: In the full cohort, regional specific arsenic concentrations were positively associated with language abilities (p = 0.008), but associated with poorer verbal memory, immediate (p = 0.008), and delayed (p < 0.001), as well as poorer visual memory, immediate (p = 0.02), and delayed (p < 0.001). The findings varied by diagnostic category with arsenic being related with cognition most prominently among mild cognitive impairment cases. Conclusions: Overall, estimated regional specific groundwater arsenic levels were negatively associated with neuropsychological performance.
AB - Background: The purpose of the study was to examine the link between geographic information system (GIS)-estimated regional specific groundwater levels and neuropsychological functioning in a sample of individuals with and without cognitive impairment. Methods: This cross-sectional study design analyzed data from 1390 participants (733 Alzheimers disease, 127 Mild Cognitive Impairment, and 530 with normal cognition) enrolled in the Texas Alzheimers Research and Care Consortium. GISs analyses were used to estimate regional specific groundwater arsenic concentrations using the Environmental Systems Research Institute and arsenic concentrations from the Texas Water Development Board. Results: In the full cohort, regional specific arsenic concentrations were positively associated with language abilities (p = 0.008), but associated with poorer verbal memory, immediate (p = 0.008), and delayed (p < 0.001), as well as poorer visual memory, immediate (p = 0.02), and delayed (p < 0.001). The findings varied by diagnostic category with arsenic being related with cognition most prominently among mild cognitive impairment cases. Conclusions: Overall, estimated regional specific groundwater arsenic levels were negatively associated with neuropsychological performance.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Groundwater
KW - Mild cognitive impairment
KW - Neuropsychology
KW - arsenic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84926116863&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09603123.2014.883591
DO - 10.1080/09603123.2014.883591
M3 - Article
C2 - 24506178
AN - SCOPUS:84926116863
VL - 24
SP - 546
EP - 557
JO - International Journal of Environmental Health Research
JF - International Journal of Environmental Health Research
SN - 0960-3123
IS - 6
ER -