Is midlife obesity linked to later dementia?

January 01, 0001

Is midlife obesity linked to later dementia?

Obesity has been proposed as a risk factor for later dementia. This international group of researchers examine whether midlife overweight and obesity was linked with subsequent dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD), and to test whether genetic and early-life environmental factors contribute to the observed association. Using the Swedish Twin Registry, twin individuals aged =65 (n=8,534) were assessed for dementia. Height and weight at midlife were obtained from the registry.

The researchers found: "Among all participants, dementia was diagnosed in 350 subjects, and 114 persons had questionable dementia. Overweight (body mass index [BMI])

The researchers concluded: "Both overweight and obesity at midlife independently increase the risk of dementia, AD, and VaD. Genetic and early-life environmental factors may contribute to the midlife high adiposity-dementia association."

Midlife adiposity is linked with dementia in later life, but this analysis suggests the link may be due in part to environmental factors from early life.

For the full abstract, click here.

Neurology 76(18):1568-1574, 3 May 2011 © 2011 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
Midlife overweight and obesity increase late-life dementia risk. W.L. Xu, A.R. Atti, M. Gatz, N.L. Pedersen, B. Johansson, and L. Fratiglioni. Correspondence to Dr. Weili Xu: [email protected]

Category: N. Neurological. Keywords: dementia, Alzheimer, vascular, adiposity, obesity, twin study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 24 June 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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