Magnesium Depletion Score as a Novel Predictor of Cognitive Impairment: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study From NHANES.

OBJECTIVE

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency may accelerate neurodegenerative disease progression, but current cognitive impairment biomarkers have significant limitations. This study aimed to investigate the association between Mg depletion score (MDS) and cognitive impairment.

DESIGN

This study is a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the relationship between MDS and cognitive performance.

SETTING AND

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 2768 participants aged 60 years and older from the NHANES dataset. Among them, 650 participants (23.48%) showed cognitive impairment on the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) test, 700 (25.29%) on the Animal Fluency Test, and 676 (24.42%) on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).

METHODS

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, multivariable linear regression models, and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the association between MDS and cognitive performance.

RESULTS

Higher MDS scores were significantly associated with increased odds of cognitive impairment across all tests. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that MDS was significantly associated with cognitive impairment, particularly on the CREAD test (β, -0.71; 95% CI, 1.42-0.00) and the DSST (β, -2.78; 95% CI, 4.41 to -1.15). In contrast, the Animal Fluency Test demonstrated a weaker and less consistent association (β, -0.71; 95% CI, 1.48-0.06). Subgroup analyses showed that the association between MDS and cognitive impairment was particularly pronounced in individuals who were sedentary or had a dietary Mg intake ≤420 mg/d.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: MDS may serve as a predictor of cognitive impairment, with sedentary lifestyle and low dietary Mg intake strengthening this association. Further prospective studies are required to validate these findings. The study suggests that MDS could be an early marker for cognitive decline, with implications for early intervention in individuals with low Mg intake or sedentary behavior.