Association of serum biomarkers for lipid and amino acid metabolism with cognition in adolescents

BACKGROUND: We investigated the associations of serum biomarkers for lipid and amino acid metabolism with cognition in adolescents. METHODS: Altogether 276 adolescents aged 15-16 years were studied. Serum biomarkers for lipid and amino acid metabolism were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cognition was assessed using the CogState tests measuring psychomotor function, attention, short-term memory, working memory, and visual learning and memory. The composite cognition score (COMP) including all cognitive measures was calculated. RESULTS: Higher total cholesterol, phosphoglycerides, cholines, sphingomyelins, VLDL- and LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, and saturated fatty acids were associated with poorer psychomotor function. Higher sphingomyelins, HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, and glutamine were associated with worse visual learning and memory. Higher LDL cholesterol diameter and higher omega 3 to total fatty acid ratio were associated with better working memory accuracy. Higher serum histidine was associated with better attention and phenylalanine with faster psychomotor function under working memory demand. CONCLUSION: Serum biomarkers for lipid metabolism, such as higher total cholesterol and saturated fatty acids, were associated with poorer cognition, particularly psychomotor function, among adolescents. IMPACT: Serum metabolites, such as saturated fatty acids and branched-chain amino acids, have been associated with impaired cognition in the elderly. However, there are few studies on the associations of biomarkers of serum lipid and amino acid metabolism with cognition in youth. We found that serum biomarkers for lipid metabolism, such as higher serum concentrations of total cholesterol, phosphoglycerides, and saturated fatty acids, were associated with poorer cognition, particularly psychomotor function, among adolescents. Our findings suggest that biomarkers of lipid metabolism that are harmful for cardiometabolic health can also impair cognitive development in adolescents.