Triceps and Subscapular Skinfold in Men Aged 40-65 and Dementia Prevalence 36 Years Later

The relationship of obesity with risk for dementia is complex and may change with age.

To analyze the relationship between measures of obesity at age 40-65 and dementia prevalence in survivors 36 years later.

Obesity-related measures of triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness were assessed in 1963 in n = 9,760 men aged 40-65 participating in the Israel Ischemic Heart Disease study. Cognitive evaluation and assessment of dementia prevalence were performed in n = 1,643 participants of the original cohort who survived until 1999/2000 (age ≥76 years) and had anthropometric measures in 1963.

Age-adjusted prevalence of dementia in survivors in 1999/2000 by baseline triceps skinfold quintile was 20.5%, 21.2%, 17.6%, 15.6%, and 14.5%, respectively, from lowest to highest (p = 0.006 in trend test). Using logistic regression, a 6-mm increment of triceps skinfold was associated with an age and BMI-adjusted odds ratio of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70-0.94) for dementia prevalence among survivors. Age-adjusted risk for dementia by subscapular skinfold quintile demonstrated 20.5%, 17.1%, 15.7%, 19.4%, and 18.1%, respectively, in groups of subjects by subscapular skinfold quintile from lowest to highest (p = 0.6 in trend test).

Lower triceps skinfold at age 40-65, reflecting diminished peripheral fat, was associated with higher dementia prevalence in late life, potentially suggesting a protective role of peripheral fat to brain health.