Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41467745›Full record

ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2026

Serum uric acid levels and longitudinal change in cognitive function in older adults: a sex-stratified population-based study.

Md Golam Rabbani, Sheikh M Alif, Joanne Ryan, Zhen Zhou, Cammie Tran, Amanda J Rickard, Catherine Robb, Robyn L Woods, Suzanne G Orchard, Raj C Shah and 3 more

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In one paragraph

Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

13 authors.

Md Golam RabbaniSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4172-3438
Sheikh M AlifSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0783-8848
Joanne RyanSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7039-6325
Zhen ZhouSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0835-8686
Cammie TranSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3997-6118
Amanda J RickardSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Catherine RobbSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7586-5533
Robyn L WoodsSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1249-6149
Suzanne G OrchardSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0211-3183
Raj C ShahDepartment of Family Medicine and the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-9706-9730
Anne M MurrayBerman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.
John J McNeilSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1049-5129
Md Nazmul KarimSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2604-9649

Funding

ASPirin in Reducing Events in the ElderlyU01AG029824 · NIA · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI MCNEIL, JOHN JAMES, MURRAY, ANNE M · 2009 to 2018
$64.6M
Main Administrative CoreU19AG062682 · NIA · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI CHAN, ANDREW T, MCNEIL, JOHN JAMES · 2019 to 2023
$42.9M
Joanne Ryan is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Research Leader Fellowship 1135727National Institute on Aging and the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health 1127060National Institute on Aging and the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health 334047NIA NIH HHS U01 AG029824NIA NIH HHS U19 AG062682
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSerum uric acid (SUA) has been linked to cognitive function, but sex-specific associations remain unclear. Biological differences in SUA levels between sexes, driven by hormonal and renal factors, highlight the importance of sex-stratified analysis. This study examined the association between SUA levels and changes in cognitive function in older adults.

methodsA total of 11 411 community-dwelling ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly participants, free from dementia at baseline and with valid SUA measurements, were included. The Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test were used to assess cognition at baseline and over a median follow-up of 9 years. Separate linear mixed-effects regression models in males and females were fitted to assess the associations between SUA levels and change in cognitive function over time.

resultsFemales in the lowest SUA quintile (Q1) had significant declines in the measure of global cognition (3MS: β ±SE= -0.07 ± 0.03, p = .02) and episodic memory (HVLT-R; delayed recall: β±SE= -0.03 ± 0.01, p = .02) compared to the middle quintiles (Q2-Q4), but the highest SUA quintile (Q5) was not associated with decline. No associations were observed for executive function, verbal fluency, or psychomotor speed. In males, no significant associations between SUA levels and change in cognitive function were observed.

conclusionLow SUA levels were linked to decline in the measure of global cognition and episodic memory among females but not males. High SUA levels were not associated with cognitive decline. Managing SUA levels within the physiological range may support cognitive health, particularly in older females.

Indexed as

CognitionCognitive DysfunctionUric AcidAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansIndependent LivingLongitudinal StudiesMaleNeuropsychological TestsSex FactorsUric AcidAntioxidantCognitionCognitive declineSerum uric acidSex differences

Identifiers

PMID41467745
PMCPMC13458196

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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.