Background
: Several studies have revealed a relationship between the cognitive decline and several cardiovascular diseases. The relationship between the metabolic syndrome and cognitive function has not been studied yet in Korea. The objective of our study was to determine the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and cognitive function in elders above 50 years old.

Methods : We examined subjects who visited the health promotion center of one college hospital in Seoul. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines and we categorized the two groups by the presence of the metabolic syndrome. We used the Korean version of Mini Mental State Examination to check the cognitive functions and compared scores between these two groups.

Results : There were a total of 400 subjects (195 men and 205 women). Compared with those without the metabolic syndrome, elders with the metabolic syndrome had lower mean scores in K-MMSE (26.6±2.0-28.2±1.8, P＜0.001). In subcategories of K-MMSE, the average scores of concentration or calculation were lower in the metabolic syndrome group (3.5±1.3) than in the control group (4.3±1.0) and the average scores of delayed recall were lower in those with the metabolic syndrome (1.7±0.9) than the control group (2.2±0.8) (P＜0.001). After controlling for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol, and body mass index, multiple regression yielded the metabolic syndrome to be independent associated factor in cognitive function (P＜0.001).

Conclusion : We found a significant relationship between decreased cognitive function and the metabolic syndrome. There are needs for prospective study about the possible development of dementia in the metabolic syndrome and probable prevention of dementia when cardiovascular risk factors in those are modulated.