Weight gain, loss associated with dementia diagnosis

As we age we may find it challenging to maintain our weight, and for some, it’s a lifelong struggle. Obesity, commonly measured by body mass index (BMI), continues to be a global epidemic, as a high BMI may lead to health problems.

Now, researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College have found that different patterns of BMI changes over the course of a person’s life may be an indicator of a person’s risk for dementia.

“These findings are important because previous studies that looked at weight trajectories didn’t consider how patterns of weight gain/stability/loss might help signal that dementia is potentially imminent,” said the Framingham Heart Study’s corresponding author Rhoda Au, professor of anatomy and neurobiology at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Previous studies have shown that obesity is associated with an increased risk of dementia, with several studies reporting a reverse causality, with weight loss preceding the onset of dementia, according to the Framingham Study findings published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Through the Framingham Heart Study, a group of participants was followed for nearly 40 years and their weight was measured roughly every two to four years. The researchers compared different weight patterns among those who did and did not show signs of dementia.

They found that the overall trend of declining BMI (weight loss) was associated with a higher risk of developing dementia, however, upon further exploration, they found a subgroup with a pattern of initial increasing BMI (weight gain) followed by declining BMI, both occurring within midlife, which appeared to be central to the declining BMI-dementia association.

“We know that a healthy lifestyle may impact the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and this new research supports that,” said Teresa Galbier, executive director of the Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Science is able to provide insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help keep our brains and bodies healthy as we age.”

Au notes that for individuals, family members and primary care physicians, it is relatively easy to monitor weight.

“If after a steady increase in weight that is common as one gets older, there is an unexpected shift to losing weight post-midlife, it might be good to consult with one’s healthcare provider and pinpoint why,” Au said. “There are some potential treatments emerging where early detection might be critical in the effectiveness of any of these treatments as they are approved and become available.”

The Alzheimer’s Association offers numerous educational programs and resources on healthy living, including a virtual workshop being held on Feb. 7, Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.

In New York state, 410,000 individuals are living with dementia and that number is expected to grow by more than 12% to 460,000 by 2025, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s most recent Facts and Figures report. Nationwide, more than 6 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Dementia is not necessarily inevitable and monitoring risk indicators such as something as easy to notice as weight patterns might offer opportunities for early intervention that can change the trajectory of disease onset and progression,” Au said.

About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.