The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Advance Access originally published online on June 26, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 2009 64A(10):1090-1096; doi:10.1093/gerona/glp081
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Previous Hepatitis A Virus Infection Is Related to Slower Psychomotor Speed in Elderly Adults
1 Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2 Department of Neurology, Pingtung Hospital, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Pingtung, Taiwan
3 Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
4 Department of and Master’s Program in Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
5 Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
6 School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
7 Department of Dentistry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
8 Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Address correspondence to Hsu-Ko Kuo, MD, MPH, Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung San South Road, Taipei City 100, Taiwan. Email: hsukokuo{at}yahoo.com
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Abstract |
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Background: Patients with chronic viral hepatitis are at a higher risk for cognitive dysfunction. Little is known about the association between hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and cognitive function.
Methods: From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002, we selected study participants (
60 years, n = 1,529) without hepatitis B, C, or D virus infection; without previous hepatitis A vaccination; and without abnormal liver function. HAV-seropositive participants represented people with previous HAV infection. Psychomotor speed and executive functioning domain of cognitive function were measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).
Results: HAV-seropositive participants had lower DSST scores than HAV-seronegative participants (weighted mean, 44.4 vs 53.9, p < .001). We designated HAV-seronegative participants as the reference group. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the weighted β coefficient of DSST score was –9.55 (95% confidence interval [CI] –9.57 to –9.54, p < .001) for the HAV-seropositive participants. In a multivariable model, the weighted adjusted β coefficient of DSST score was –2.48 (95% CI –2.49 to –2.46, p < .001) for the HAV-seropositive participants.
Conclusion: HAV seropositivity is associated with slower psychomotor speed among the U.S. community-dwelling elders.
Keywords Hepatitis A; Neuropsychological tests; Cross-sectional studies; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Received: January 18, 2009; Accepted: May 2, 2009