Obesity Associated with a Higher Risk for Dementia
A recent study suggests obesity may be associated with an increased risk for developing dementia. Obesity, like cardiovascular disease and stroke, is a modifiable risk factor for dementia since it generally can be countered through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
Researchers at University College London analyzed a group of participants from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) who were at least 50 years old when enrolled in the study (Ma et al., 2020).
Baseline measurements, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, were collected when the participants enrolled. The participants were followed up on average 11 years later to determine whether they had developed dementia.
Researchers found participants who had a BMI corresponding with overweight or obese were more likely to develop dementia. This outcome supports previous studies that indicate obesity is a risk factor.
Researchers also found abdominal obesity, associated with high waist circumference, at baseline is a risk factor that affects women more than men.
Also, the association between obesity and dementia was independent of whether a person was a smoker, had hypertension or diabetes, or carried the APOE ε4 gene, a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Reference
- Ma, Y., Ajnakina, O., Steptoe, A., & Cadar, D. (2020). Higher risk of dementia in English older individuals who are overweight or obese. International Journal of Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa099