Vitamin D Status Over Time and Cognitive Function in Norwegian Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort of the HUNT Study.

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between vitamin D status and cognitive function in population studies. The use of one-time vitamin D measurement in cognitive health studies may not reflect long-term vitamin D status in the body. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the relationship of vitamin D status measured over time with the risk of neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) in Norwegian older adults. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Regional, Trøndelag Health Study. PARTICIPANTS: This study followed a random cohort of 717 participants from HUNT2 (1995-97) and HUNT3 (2006-08) to HUNT4 70+ (2017-19). The mean age at HUNT4 70+ was 77.7 years. METHODS: Seasonal-standardized serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in HUNT2 and HUNT3 were averaged and used as either a categorical variable (<50 and ≥50 nmol/L) or a continuous variable (per 25 nmol/L decrease). In the cohort aged 70 years or over (HUNT4 70+), NCDs consisting of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia were diagnosed by clinical experts according to the DSM-5 criteria. Logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and regression coefficients (beta) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and the risk of NCDs or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score. RESULTS: In total, 347 (48.4%) had NCDs in HUNT4, with 33.3% having MCI and 15.1% having dementia. Compared with participants with serum 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/L, those with 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L had a similar risk of NCDs (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.46). No association was observed with the risk of MCI (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.44) or dementia (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.92), respectively. In a subsample of participants evaluated with the MoCA (n=662), a 25 nmol/L decrease in serum 25(OH)D was not associated with a change in MoCA score (beta 0.33, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.85). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D insufficiency defined by two times measurements of serum 25(OH)D with a 10-year interval was not associated with the risk of NCDs in a cohort of older Norwegian adults. Future studies utilizing multiple vitamin D measurements with a longer follow-up duration and larger sample size are warranted.

Screening for women with increased risk of fragility fractures in a general female population using digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive ability of digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) for fracture in women attending general mammography screening. STUDY DESIGN: In a nested case-control study, women aged between 40 and 75 years, who attended the regional mammography screening program, had their bone mass assessed with DXR and provided information regarding clinical risk factors for osteoporosis. Follow-up was done through cross-referencing with National Patient Registers. Associations between DXR, clinical risk factors and fracture risk were examined. Receiver operating characteristics curves for DXR T-score and different fracture types were plotted, and their respective AUC calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fractures (hip, major osteoporotic and any clinical facture). Fracture diagnoses were retrieved from National Patient Registers. RESULTS: 14,841 women had their bone mass examined in conjunction with mammography. Of these women, 10,967 returned fully completed questionnaires regarding clinical risk factors. In total 605 fractures (including 355 major osteoporotic fractures and 18 hip fractures) occurred during the follow-up period (median follow-up time was 3.3 years). Women with fractures were older and had lower DXR T-score compared with those without. DXR T-score correlated with fracture risk. HR/SD T-score decrease was 2.15 (CI 1.55-3.00) for hip, 1.47 (CI 1.36-1.59) for major osteoporotic and 1.33 (CI 1.26-1.42) for any clinical fracture. The AUCs for the different fracture types were 0.79 (hip), 0.69 (major osteoporotic) and 0.65 (any clinical). CONCLUSIONS: DXR T-score is negatively correlated with risk of fracture in a general female population. This indicates a potential use of DXR in population-based screening for osteoporosis.

The associations of anxiety and depression symptoms with weight change and incident obesity: The HUNT Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of anxiety and depression symptoms with weight change and incident obesity in men and women. DESIGN: We conducted a prospective cohort study using the Norwegian Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). SUBJECTS: The study cohort included 25 180 men and women, 19-55 years of age from the second survey of the HUNT (1995-1997). MEASUREMENTS: Anxiety and depression symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Weight change was determined for the study period of an average 11 years. Incident obesity was new-onset obesity classified as having a body mass index of 30.0 kg m(2) at follow-up. The associations of anxiety or depression with weight change in kilograms (kg) was estimated using linear regression models. Risk ratios (RRs) for incident obesity associated with anxiety or depression were estimated using log-binomial regression. RESULTS: In men, any anxiety or depression was associated with an average 0.81 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27-1.34) larger weight change after 11 years compared with those without such symptoms (mean weight change: 5.04 versus 4.24 kg). Women with any anxiety or depression had an average 0.98 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49-1.47) larger weight change compared with those without such symptoms (mean weight change: 5.02 versus 4.04 kg). Participants with any anxiety or depression had a significantly elevated cumulative incidence of obesity (men: RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.13-1.65; women: RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00-1.40). CONCLUSION: We found that symptoms of anxiety and depression were associated with larger weight change and an increased cumulative incidence of obesity in both men and women.