Exposure of individuals to heavy metals (HMs) is a growing concern with far-reaching implications for human health. HMs encompass a diverse range of elements that, when present in excess or in particular chemical forms, have the potential to elicit adverse effects on the central nervous system and cognitive function. This systematic review aims to comprehensively investigate the relationship between exposure to HMs and neurocognitive function in adults. The methodological framework for this review adheres rigorously to the Meta-analyses Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. A meticulous and extensive search strategy was executed within PubMed and Web of Science, specifically targeting articles published in the English language until the cutoff date of December 5, 2023. The evaluation of the retrieved studies was systematically conducted by employing the assessment approach outlined by (Gascon et al. in Environ Int 86 60 67, 2016). The initial search yielded a substantial pool of 1573 articles, culminating in a refined selection comprising eight pertinent studies, collectively enrolling a participant cohort totalling n = 1,828,126. Notably, the studies under review predominantly manifested a cross-sectional or cohort design and were geographically situated within the continents of North America and Asia. Furthermore, it is imperative to underscore that a predominant and recurring observation emanating from the majority of the scrutinized investigations underscores a significant correlation between exposure to cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) and deleterious neurocognitive outcomes in the adult population. In summary, our systematic review postulates that exposure to HMs through various routes of exposure harbors the potential for adverse effects on adult neurocognitive function; however, it is incumbent upon future research endeavors to validate and corroborate these findings through further empirical exploration.

个人接触重金属 (HM) 受到越来越多的关注，这对人类健康产生深远影响。HM 包含多种元素，当这些元素过量或以特定化学形式存在时，可能会对中枢神经系统和认知功能产生不利影响。本系统综述旨在全面研究成人 HMs 暴露与神经认知功能之间的关系。本次综述的方法框架严格遵守流行病学观察研究荟萃分析 (MOOSE) 指南。在 PubMed 和 Web of Science 内执行了细致而广泛的检索策略，特别针对截止日期 2023 年 12 月 5 日之前以英语发表的文章。对检索到的研究的评估是通过采用 ( Gascon 等人在 Environ Int 86 60 67, 2016 中）。最初的搜索产生了 1,573 篇文章，最终精炼出包含八项相关研究的精选文章，总共招募了总计n  = 1,828,126 名参与者。值得注意的是，正在审查的研究主要表现为横断面或队列设计，并且地理位置位于北美和亚洲大陆。此外，必须强调的是，大多数仔细调查得出的主要和反复观察结果强调了镉（Cd）和汞（Hg）暴露与成年人有害的神经认知结果之间存在显着相关性。总之，我们的系统评价假设，通过各种接触途径接触 HMs 可能对成人神经认知功能产生不利影响；然而，未来的研究有责任通过进一步的实证探索来验证和证实这些发现。