Taller adult height is associated with better performance of cognitive trajectories in Chinese over 45 years old: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Aim: The association between adult height and follow-up cognition requires an update in China. We aimed to examine the association between baseline height and follow-up cognitive trajectories in Chinese subjects from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Methods: A total of 6508 adults aged 45 years or older from the CHARLS were included for analysis. Latent class growth modeling was used to determine cognitive trajectories of 2011, 2013 and 2015. Multivariable linear regression and logistic regression models were used to examine the association between baseline adult height and cognitive performance and trajectories, respectively.

Results: At baseline, an increment of 1 SD (8.3 cm) of height was associated with a higher global cognitive score (β = 0.492, 95% CI, 0.348-0.636), verbal episodic memory (β = 0.155, 95% CI, 0.086-0.224) and mental status (β = 0.337, 95% CI, 0.225-0.449). These associations were still observed even when stratified by sex. Prospectively, for females, the third quartile of height level (i.e., 155 to 158 cm) was associated with a better global cognitive function trajectory (OR = 1.627, P = 0.001, P for trend = 0.009) and mental status trajectory (OR = 1.456, P = 0.012, P for trend = 0.047); and the tallest height level (i.e., 159 cm or taller) was related to a better verbal episodic memory trajectory (OR = 1.574, P = 0.017). For males, no associations were observed.

Conclusion: Increased stature might be associated with better cognitive trajectories for subjects in China. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 732-740.