Germany – Experts recommend maintaining a healthy weight for brain health, however, some studies say that obesity can protect against dementia in some cases.
It is known that excess weight in middle age can increase the risk of dementia as one gets older, as obesity damages blood vessels in the brain and contributes to high blood pressure, diabetes, and inflammation, all of which are factors linked to dementia, but the new study reached interesting results that say: Gaining excess weight when individuals exceed the age of 65 has been shown to have a protective effect against brain diseases that destroy the mind.”
The two contradictory facts represent what researchers call the “obesity paradox,” which challenges the conventional wisdom that obesity is always detrimental to an individual’s health.
The study looked at data from 2,798 people, 480 of whom were diagnosed with dementia over a period of five and a half years.
The results revealed that while obesity in midlife was associated with a 40% increased risk of dementia, at ages 60 to 65, it was associated with a lower risk of dementia.
The reason behind this paradox remains unclear.
Studies have shown a link between obesity and a higher risk of dementia due to the inflammatory effects resulting from obesity, which damages the brain, so an inverse relationship does not make sense.
The association of obesity in advanced age with a lower risk of dementia has been puzzling to scientists. However, some say one explanation may be due to the fact that those with obesity are more likely to visit doctors more often for health problems that can contribute to dementia, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and receive treatments for these conditions. , which may be a protective factor.
Some warn that the idea of the “obesity paradox” could discourage doctors from discussing the risks of obesity in older patients.
Dr Judith Kronschnabel, who holds a master’s degree at the Munich Research Center for the Economics of Aging at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy in Germany, said: “It has been suggested that being overweight or obese in old age may become beneficial for maintaining cognitive performance, but we find no evidence. On that. Accordingly, such a misconception should not contribute to doctors’ reluctance to advise obese or overweight patients to reduce excess body weight.”
Until middle age, people should aim to maintain their BMI at 20 to 25.
Source: Daily Mail
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2024-05-13 10:16:43