People with a higher body mass index seem to do worse on tests of cognitive function. Both obesity and dementia are increasing in the older population. Now researchers in France suggest that there could be a link between the two conditions.

They carried out tests of cognitive function on 2,233 healthy men and women aged from 32 to 62 between 1996 and 2001.

Those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 did worse on tests of word recall than those with a BMI of 20. And a higher BMI in 1996 was linked to a higher rate of cognitive decline according to tests done in 2001. The researchers think that obesity could affect mental functioning by hardening the arteries in the brain. Another possible mechanism could be insulin resistance. The findings suggest that controlling obesity in middle-aged people may protect their cognitive functioning in later life.

Source

Neurology 10th October 2006