Obesity and Alzheimer's Disease

Most of us know that obesity has been linked to a whole host of diseases such as diabetes, some cancers and cardio vascular disease. New research has just been documented that obesity is linked to Alzheimer disease as well.

Researchers specifically found that obesity in middle age predicts an earlier onset of Alzheimer disease, not only that but a higher burden of disease will be more severe when it hits. Some researchers in Baltimore who did a longitudinal Study of Aging looked at the midlife body mass index and Alzheimer’s, they also went further to look at the severity of the disease. The authors of this research study found that higher BMI in middle age (50 years of age) was associated with an earlier onset of Alzheimer disease as well as higher measures of the disease’s severity.

This contributed to more amyloid deposition which is a contributing factor of the onset Alzheimer disease in the brain of patients with a higher midlife BMI, as compared with those who had a healthy BMI at age 50. This indicates a more severe form of the disease. The researchers concluded that a healthy BMI at midlife may thus delay the onset of Alzheimer disease.

Some earlier studies have consistently shown that obesity is associated with dementia. In another study similar to the one above, but conducted in Eastern Finland, researchers followed patients for a total of 26 years, measuring their BMI at an average age of 50 as well as later, at an average age of 71. The researchers observed which patients developed dementia later in life, and found that, again, higher midlife BMI was associated with a higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease. You should know that dementia are symptoms associated with memory loss and confusion while Alzheimer is a  disease where thinking is impaired and behavior changes are dramatically caused by changes in the brain. We do know that dementia can sometimes be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. An analysis study from Swedish researchers concluded that “both overweight and obesity at midlife independently increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease.” Some studied also concluded that diabetes, which is an obesity-related disorder, may lead to an earlier onset of dementia. With all of this evidence it is safe to say that overweight and obesity at midlife puts one at a higher risk of developing dementia as well as an earlier onset of Alzheimer disease.

The issue for anyone who is in midlife is that this is a time when many baby boomers have a tendency to gain weight, as metabolism slows down a bit, and they might not be moving as much as they should. With this in mind it is clear to see how utterly important it is to get off of the couch and move your body on a daily basis, we need to live a more active lifestyle and eat more nutritious foods that are good for us and will maintain brain function in our golden years. As we mature and get older keeping your body as well as you mind healthy is the sure way to longer life!