Research highlights the differing effects of cadmium exposure on cognitive function, with White individuals showing a higher risk of impairment, potentially exacerbated by higher smoking rates. The study calls for more comprehensive research and proactive measures to mitigate cadmium exposure.
The heavy metal cadmium, which is found in the air, water, food, and soil, is known to cause health problems. A new study published in the September 4, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, examined if thinking and memory skills were associated with cadmium exposure.
They found no association when they looked at the group as a whole. However, when looking at Black and White people separately, it found cadmium may be tied to problems with thinking and memory skills in White people. The study found no such association in Black people. The study does not prove that cadmium causes memory problems in White people; it only shows an association.
Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal that enters the body mainly through cigarette smoking, breathing polluted air, and food. It is released into the environment through industrial and agricultural activities.
“With the high occurrence and high cost of dementia to families and to society, it’s important to identify risk factors for early cognitive problems that could be affected by changes in people’s behavior or in society,” said study author Liping Lu, MD, PhD, of Columbia University in New York City.
Study Demographics and Methodology
The study involved 2,172 people with an average age of 64 and no problems with thinking or memory skills. Black people made up 39% of the participants and White people made up 61%. Levels of cadmium in the urine were tested at the beginning of the study. Participants took tests of thinking and memory skills every year and were followed for an average of 10 years.
During that time, 195 people developed cognitive impairment. When researchers looked at the overall group, they found no association between cadmium levels and cognitive impairment. However, when they looked at Black and White participants separately, they found that White people with high levels of cadmium were more likely to develop cognitive impairment. They found no association in Black people.
With participants divided into two groups based on cadmium levels, White people with high levels were twice as likely to develop cognitive impairment as those with low levels, even after adjusting for other factors that could affect cognitive impairment, such as physical activity, alcohol use and education. A total of 9.2% of those with high levels developed thinking and memory problems, compared to 6.7% of those with low levels.
Influence of Smoking on Cadmium Exposure
Lu said one explanation for the difference between White and Black people could be cigarette smoking. After dividing the participants into three groups based on cadmium levels, researchers found that White people in the highest level smoked an average of 23 pack-years compared to nine pack-years for Black people in the highest level.
Pack-years are a way to measure smoking over time. It is determined by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked. So, 23 pack-years is equal to one pack a day for 23 years, or two packs a day for 11.5 years, for example.
Conclusion and Future Research Directions
“These results need to be confirmed with studies that measure cadmium levels over time, include more people and follow people over a longer time, but there are many reasons to reduce exposure to cadmium, whether it’s through implementing policies and regulations for air pollution and drinking water or people changing their behaviors by stopping smoking or being around cigarette smoke,” Lu said.
A limitation of the study was that cadmium levels in the urine were tested only at the beginning of the study and exposure may have changed over time.
Reference: “Association of Urinary Cadmium Concentration With Cognitive Impairment in US AdultsA Longitudinal Cohort Study” by Liping Lu, Yijia Zhang, Meghan Angley, Shai Bejerano, John D. Brockman, Leslie A. McClure, Frederick W. Unverzagt, Alyce D. Fly and Ka Kahe, 4 September 2024, Neurology.
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000209808
The study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging.
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1 Comment
“Lu said one explanation for the difference between White and Black people could be cigarette smoking. After dividing the participants into three groups based on cadmium levels, researchers found that White people in the highest level smoked an average of 23 pack-years compared to nine pack-years for Black people in the highest level….people changing their behaviors by stopping smoking or being around cigarette smoke,” Lu said.”
Actually, this study ignored another source of cadmium, which is chocolate. Recent analyses of chocolate from many brands, including high quality ones, showed extremely high levels of lead and cadmium. These contaminants get there from the machinery used to process the cocoa beans. This can help explain the racial difference in cadmium levels in whites versus blacks, apart from cigarette smoking, since chocolate is more utilized by white cultures more than black cultures.
Why? I asked CHATgpt about racial disparities in chocolate consumption, and this is what it said:
“There can be racial and ethnic differences in chocolate consumption patterns, influenced by various factors including cultural preferences, income levels, and regional availability. Here are some broad observations:
Cultural Preferences: Different cultures have varying levels of affinity for chocolate. For example, in some European countries like Switzerland and Belgium, chocolate consumption is particularly high due to strong traditions of chocolate production and consumption. In contrast, other cultures may not have as strong a tradition of consuming chocolate.
Income Levels: Economic factors can play a role. Higher-income groups, which can vary by race and ethnicity depending on the region, often have more disposable income to spend on luxury items like premium chocolates.
Regional Variations: Consumption patterns can also be influenced by regional availability. In countries where chocolate is a major part of the culinary culture, like Belgium or Switzerland, consumption rates are high. In contrast, regions with less access to chocolate or less cultural emphasis on it may see lower consumption rates.
Marketing and Access: Marketing strategies and the availability of chocolate products can also impact consumption. In some regions, chocolate is heavily marketed and widely available, while in others, it may be less promoted or harder to find.
These factors combine to create diverse consumption patterns across different racial and ethnic groups. It’s important to consider these variables in any discussion about demographic differences in chocolate consumption.”
What contribution chocolate makes to cadmium levels compared to smoking is another issue, and has not been studied to my knowledge.