Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39558028›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

Single and joint exposure of Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Cu, and Zn were associated with cognitive function of older adults.

Zixuan Fu, Xiaofang Xu, Li Cao, Qianying Xiang, Qian Gao, Huirong Duan, Shuhan Wang, Liye Zhou, Xiujuan Yang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Environmental Pollution, Biomarkers, and Dementia: An Evidence Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Neurotoxic mechanisms of cadmium in neurodegenerative diseases.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Zixuan FuMOE Key Laboratory of Coal environmental pathopoiesis and control, Shanxi Medial University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Xiaofang XuMOE Key Laboratory of Coal environmental pathopoiesis and control, Shanxi Medial University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Li CaoMOE Key Laboratory of Coal environmental pathopoiesis and control, Shanxi Medial University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Qianying XiangMOE Key Laboratory of Coal environmental pathopoiesis and control, Shanxi Medial University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Qian GaoMOE Key Laboratory of Coal environmental pathopoiesis and control, Shanxi Medial University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Huirong DuanMOE Key Laboratory of Coal environmental pathopoiesis and control, Shanxi Medial University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Shuhan WangMOE Key Laboratory of Coal environmental pathopoiesis and control, Shanxi Medial University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Liye ZhouSchool of Management, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China. zhouliye@sxmu.edu.cn.
Xiujuan YangMOE Key Laboratory of Coal environmental pathopoiesis and control, Shanxi Medial University, Taiyuan, 030001, China. yangxj@sxmu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 32301421National Natural Science Foundation of China 82204163Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi 2021L222Teaching Reform Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi J20220435the Applied Basic Research Project of Shanxi Province, China 202203021221189
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImpaired cognitive function following exposure to heavy metals has emerged as a significant global health concern. Nevertheless, the impact of combined exposure to multiple heavy metals on cognitive impairment remains unclear.

objectiveThis study aimed to explore the association between multiple heavy metals exposure and cognitive function to provide theoretical evidence to guide prevention strategies.

methodsThe blood levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) and the results of the cognitive function tests were extracted from 811 elderly Americans who completed the NHANES between 2011 and 2014. Quantile regression (QR), restricted cubic splines (RCS), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to explore the individual and joint association between heavy metals exposure and performance in 4 standardized cognitive tests; Item Response Theory (IRT), Delayed Recall Test (DRT), Animal Fluency Test (AFT) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).

resultsA negative association was noted between Cd levels and IRT (p = 0.048, 95%CI: -2.7, -0.1). Se concentrations ranging between 2.197 µg/L (95%CI: 0.004, 0.15) to 2.29 µg/L (95%CI: 2.56, 7.64) (log

conclusionExposure to Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Cu, and Zn was associated with cognitive function. Joint exposure to the 6 heavy metals showed a positive linear association with IRT, DRT, contrarily, a negative linear association with DSST.

Indexed as

CadmiumCognitionLeadMercuryMetals, HeavySeleniumZincAgedAged, 80 and overCognitive DysfunctionCopperEnvironmental ExposureFemaleHumansMaleCadmiumCopperLeadMercuryMetals, HeavySeleniumZincBKMRCognitive functionHeavy metals exposureQRRCS

Identifiers

PMID39558028
PMCPMC11574263

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.