22 May 2013

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Lifestyle

Obesity In Later Life Linked To Brain Decline

The Huffington Post UK | By Georgia James Posted: 22/03/2012 16:43 Updated: 22/03/2012 17:12

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Alzheimer's, Health News, Cognitive Function, Dementia, Obesity, Obesity Brain Function, Obesity Cognitive Decline, Photo Galleries, Uk News, UK Lifestyle News

People who are overweight in their 60s are at higher risk of brain decline, a new study has found.

Researchers studied 250 adults aged between 60 and 70 and found those with a higher body mass index (BMI) and bigger waists performed more poorly in cognitive tests.

The participants had their BMI and waist measurements recorded and underwent an abdominal CT scan and a MMSE test to measure cognitive performance.

The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test is the most commonly used test for complaints of memory problems or when a diagnosis of dementia is being considered.

The Korean study, published in the journal Age and Ageing, found that in those aged between 60 and 70, both a high body mass index (BMI) and large waist circumference were linked to poor cognitive performance.

However, in participants aged 70 and older, high BMI, waist circumference and abdominal body fat were not associated with low cognitive performance.

As well as BMI, the research also found a link between high levels of fat around internal organs and low cognitive function.

Professor Clive Ballard from the UK Alzheimer's Society said: "We have all heard how a high BMI is bad for our heart but this research suggests it could also be bad for the head. Although we don't know whether the people in this study went on to develop dementia, these findings add to the evidence that excess body fat could impact on brain function.

"One in three people over 65 will die with dementia but there are things people can do to reduce their risk. Eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked can all make a difference."

Alzheimer's Society research shows that 750,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than ten years 1m people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.

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Lifestyle Changes To Help Prevent Dementia
Drink Decaffeinated Coffee
A study at Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/01/decaffeinated-coffee-preserves-memory-diabetes_n_1246240.html" target="_hplink">decaffeinated coffee improves the brain's energy metabolism - linked to cognitive decline</a> - in those with Type 2 diabetes. "This is the first evidence showing the potential benefits of decaffeinated coffee preparations for both preventing and treating cognitive decline caused by type 2 diabetes, ageing, and/ or neurodegenerative disorders," said lead researcher, Dr Giulio Maria Pasinett.
Play Brain-Teasing Games
Everyday <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/01/puzzles-and-exercise-help-beat-dementia-symptoms_n_1122502.html" target="_hplink">games, puzzles and tasks were able to postpone decline in cognitive function and the ability to carry out everyday tasks, in dementia patients, for at least a year</a>, according to research from the University of Erlangen in Germany, published in the journals BMC Medicine.
Eat Less
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/20/eat-less-remember-more-and-other-memory-boosters_n_1160584.html" target="_hplink">Eating fewer calories could help boost memory and cognitive function</a>, according to a study at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. Researchers hope to mimic the same effect with a drug in the future, bringing hope to Alzheimer's sufferers as well as those suffering from injury-related memory loss.
Eat Fish
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre and School of Medicine found that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/30/eating-fish-protects-against-alzheimers_n_1120156.html" target="_hplink">people who ate baked or grilled fish regularly reduced their risk of developing Alzheimer's</a>. Reseracher Cyrus Raji said: "The results showed that people who consumed baked or broiled (grilled) fish at least one time per week had better preservation of grey matter volume on MRI in brain areas at risk for Alzheimer's disease."
Play The Wii Fit
<a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2012/01/17/why-a-wii-workout-could-be-better-than-the-gym-for-over-50s/" target="_hplink">Working out using virtual games such as the Wii Fit could slow cognitive decline in the over 50s</a>, researchers from Union College in the US found. Participants aged between 58 and 99 were given a 3D exercise game to play. Compared to the control group who were asked to use a regular exercise bike, the 'cybercycle' group had a 23% decrease in advancement of mild cognitive impairment and showed improved 'executive function'.
Do The Seven-Step Plan
A study in The Lancet Neurology suggest that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/07/19/new-study-shows-seven-way_n_901934.html" target="_hplink">3m cases of Alzheimer's across the world could be prevented in seven simple ways</a>. The report recommends quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, controlling your blood pressure and diabetes risk factors as well as managing depression and obesity to help combat the disease.

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Fay Sayles: Obesity Should Be Treated Like Cancer - I Don't Think So!

If these people really want help, why don't they begin by helping themselves? Why not have a few meals less per day and switch to spending tax payers money on fruit and vegetables instead of takeaways and cakes!

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edmurfin

Old man, on Bonus Time:-)

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09:05 AM on 03/23/2012

The report mentions that no association of excess weight with cognitive dysfunction was found amongst those over the age of 70. Were those overweight and now over 70 more or less likely to have problems prior to reaching that age? For this research finding to be of significance, it is to continue the study until all the participants between 60 and 70 assessed as being deficient have passed into the post 70 age group and then tested again. Will they then miraculously recover their efficiency? Those over 70 should be assessed again after a few years to see if they retain the efficiency identified earlier. How many people took part in the study? Were the numbers statistically significant? Or were they like with those used in shampoo and skin cream advertisements - " X percent of 119 users etc etc " Quite meaningless numbers. In order to show that waist size and fat distribution is genuinely involved in loss of cognition, all participants must be as near equivalent in every other aspect of their lives as is realistically possible in such a uniquely variable species of individuals - a very tall order indeed. The curious difference between the pre 70 and post 70 group makes me unconvinced that the conclusions are valid. The researchers need to show why there is a difference in test results, especially when commonsense suggests that the post 70 group would be, if anything, even more deficient if weight and fat distribution were truly responsible.

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wincanton man

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08:12 AM on 03/23/2012

Its ironic how many people automaticaly condemn research findings that point a finger at their own lifetyle. There's always a smoker who had a granny that smoked 30 a day and lived to be a hundred, or an alcoholic who had a grandfather who drank every day of his 95 years. Obesity can hardly be viewed as a benefit whatever the circumstances and whether or not it affects cognitive performance in later life, I would prefer to avoid it.

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Engineers

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11:45 PM on 03/22/2012

Bollox! - why oh why do they keep giving funding to people who have no other intitiative than to keep picking on easy targets like over weight people?. Its not too long go that similar research was leveled at dark skinned people or religious or ethnic targets, and/or disabled people of various types.
Its time that people started to mind their own damn business. Often being "overweight" is not lifestyle choice and many millions of people spend a lifetime trying to fight weight gain.
Its only just over half a century ago that people had not enough quality food to eat due to the war and rationing etc. and so the populace was slimmer and "fitter" if you want to call it that.

I am overweight (always have been) and handicapped (may be a link there do ya think...?) and at 60 and I still have all my marbles and manage to hold down several senior positions in business and charity work. Give me the funds these people get and I promise I will find better ways to improve the "Lot" of humanity without scapegoating overweight people.

Both my mother and grandfather lived to be 79 and they were overweight all their lives and yet could still outhink 90% of the people on the planet, so don't generalise to me about it.
Maybe they simply chose a bunch of dimwits to do the tests - or should I say intellectually challenged people......!

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probableclean77

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10:54 PM on 03/22/2012

Not sure about this research, although there is an emerging body of evidence to support the stance that, poor diet can have profoundly bad effects on ones' mental health... Oh and why the stress on the over 60's? It's the younger ones we should be worrying about, as they'll be around a lot longer, costing the NHS 'bucket loads' for treatments relating to poor diet, not just obesity..

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