Obesity is linked to a later diagnosis of dementia, British researchers report today.
The researchers believe that the underlying mechanism might be excess body fat contributing to the accumulation of amyloid proteins or lesions in the brain, or via its influence on cell signalling proteins.
Team leader, Dr Dorina Cadar, and colleagues from University College, London, examined figures on 6,582 adults aged over 49 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and medical reports.
They found that a body mass index of 30 or above (obese) was linked to a 31% higher risk of dementia an average of 11 years later, compared to a body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9.
In women, those with abdominal obesity had a 39% increased rate of dementia compared to those with a normal body mass index, but a similar risk with abdominal obesity alone was not seen in men.
Overall, for men and women, body mass index and waist circumference taken together produced a 28% greater risk of dementia compared to those in the normal range.
Results are published today (24 June) in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Dr Cadar said: “These findings provide new evidence that obesity may have important implications in terms of dementia risk. Both body mass index and waist circumference status should be monitored to avoid metabolic or vascular complications.“
First author, Yuxian Ma, added: “It is possible that the association between obesity and dementia might be potentially mediated by other conditions, such as hypertension or anticholinergic treatments.
“While not explored in this study, the research question of whether there an interactive effect between obesity and other midlife risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes and APOE e4 carrier status, in relation to dementia will be investigated in upcoming work.”
Ma, Y. et al. Higher risk of dementia in English older individuals who are overweight or obese. International Journal of Epidemiology 24 June 2020; doi: 10.1093/ije/dyaa099
Leave a Reply