Dramatic weight changes in later life can raise the risk of dementia by a quarter
DRAMATIC weight gain or loss in later life can raise dementia risk by a quarter, a study claims.
Men aged from 60 to 79 whose body mass index went up by ten per cent or more over two years, saw chances of getting the disease rise 25 per cent.
If their weight plummeted by the same amount, the danger of developing dementia was raised by 26 per cent.
For women, a significant change in BMI made them 15 to 17 per cent more likely to suffer dementia, the South Korean study of 67,000 people revealed.
Experts think dramatic changes may damage blood vessels and affect hormones such as insulin, linked to dementia risk.
Prof Jin-Won Kwon, of Kyungpook National University, said: “Weight gain and loss may be significant risk factors associated with dementia. Our results suggest weight control, disease management and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle are beneficial in prevention, even in later life.”
Dr Jana Voigt, from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “A healthy weight can have important health benefits, including helping control dementia risk factors.”
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“The study doesn’t tell us that losing or gaining weight causes dementia and it doesn’t provide a reason for people not to take action to achieve a healthy weight.
“Further research is important to reveal more about this relationship and whether this link could help to identify those at risk of dementia.
“A healthy weight at any point of life can have important health benefits, including helping to control dementia risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure."
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