07/26/2024
By Fan Chen

The Department of Public Health, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Fan Chen on “Magnesium Status and Associated Neuropsychological Outcomes among Adults from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study.”

Candidate Name: Fan Chen
Degree: Doctoral
Defense Date: Friday, Aug. 2, 2024
Time: 9 to 11 a.m.
Location: This defense will be held via Zoom. Passcode: 361627

Dissertation Title: Magnesium Status and Associated Neuropsychological Outcomes among Adults from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study

Committee:

  • Advisor: Katherine L. Tucker, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Wenjun Li, Ph.D., Professor, Department Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Kelsey M. Mangano, Ph.D., R.D.N., Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Tammy Scott, Ph.D., Research and Clinical Neuropsychologist, Assistant Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University

Brief Abstract:
Magnesium (Mg) is an essential electrolyte for maintaining cellular and organ function. It passes blood-brain-barrier and plays a key role in neuronal functioning and manifestations. However, Mg status has rarely been evaluated in Puerto Ricans living in the US. Further, the association between Mg and brain aging is under-studied, and evidence on Mg, depression, and sleep quality has been controversial.
The overarching goals of this dissertation are to 1) evaluate Mg status and associated factors (with a focus on diabetes medications); 2) estimate the associations of Mg status with cognitive function and brain morphology, and 3) with depressive symptomatology and sleep quality among older adults in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS). In addition, as a part of Aim 2, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the most updated evidence on associations between Mg and cognitive outcomes.

This dissertation capitalizes on cross-sectional and longitudinal data of dietary intake, molecular biomarkers, and neuropsychological measures collected by the BPRHS, among 1502 participants aged 47-75 at baseline. We found that diabetes and its medication are major factors associated with hypomagnesemia in the BPRHS. Further, adequate Mg intake and sufficient serum Mg were associated with better neuropsychological outcomes (greater brain volumes, higher cognitive scores, and lower odds of insomnia). However, most of the beneficial associations of Mg intake were only strong in participants without diabetes, but not in people with diabetes, which may be explained by excessive Mg loss in diabetes. Magnesium status merits more attention for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Special emphasis should be given to individuals with diabetes and using diabetes medications, who are at a higher risk of Mg dysregulation.