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Bodyweight change and cognitive performance in the older population
Judith M Kronschnabl1, Thorsten Kneip1, Luzia M Weiss1
1Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (MEA), Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy, Munich, Germany.
Plos One
|April 21, 2021
Summary
Weight loss, not gain, is linked to cognitive decline in older adults. This study found that declining body mass index (BMI) negatively impacts cognitive function, especially when related to illness.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive function preservation is crucial in aging societies.
- Overweight and obesity are global health concerns.
- Understanding the link between body weight changes and cognitive decline is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between body weight change and cognitive decline in old age.
- To determine how changes in body mass index (BMI) affect cognitive functioning over time.
- To investigate the heterogeneity of the BMI-cognition relationship in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (2006-2016).
- Analysis of 58,389 participants aged 50+ across 15 countries.
- Asymmetric fixed effects models, controlling for age, grip strength, health, and physical activity.
Main Results:
- A positive association was found between BMI change and cognitive performance change, primarily driven by BMI decrease.
- Weight loss was negatively related to cognition, particularly at lower BMI levels and often linked to underlying health conditions.
- Weight gain showed no significant average relationship with cognitive performance; some benefit observed for those with prior weight loss.
Conclusions:
- The study refutes the "obesity paradox" in cognition.
- Weight changes, especially loss, are associated with cognitive performance in older age, often mediated by health status and illness.
- Illness and recovery appear to be the primary drivers of the observed relationship between weight change and cognitive function.
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