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Published on: August 22, 2012
Public Health
Femke Te Hoonte1,2, Liset M Rietman1, Kirsten E J Wesenhagen1
1National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are linked to lower cognitive function in adults. Abdominal obesity accelerated cognitive decline in men aged 55 and older.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Obesity, a known risk factor for dementia, presents complex associations with cognitive decline.
- The impact of obesity timing and metrics (BMI, WC) on cognition requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and abdominal obesity with cognitive function levels and decline.
- To investigate how these associations differ based on age and sex.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 3,918 Doetinchem Cohort Study participants (aged 45-70 at baseline).
- Assessed BMI, WC, and cognitive domains (global cognition, memory, flexibility, processing speed) over time.
- Employed linear mixed models, adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, with sex and age stratification.
Main Results:
- Elevated BMI and WC correlated with lower levels across all four cognitive domains in both men and women.
- No significant association was found between BMI/WC and accelerated cognitive decline overall.
- Abdominal obesity was linked to accelerated decline in global cognition and flexibility, but only in men aged 55+ at baseline.
Conclusions:
- Higher BMI and WC are associated with reduced cognitive function levels in adults.
- While generally not linked to accelerated decline, abdominal obesity showed a specific association in older men.
- Findings highlight the importance of weight management for maintaining cognitive health across the lifespan.
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