Can obesity protect people from dementia?

Research suggests that over 65’s living with obesity may be protected against brain diseases.

Extensive research has previously found that obesity in middle-age is a risk factor for developing dementia as you get older.  However, a recent study published in Jama Neurology, has found that obesity in over 65’s could protect people against brain diseases.

Often referred to as the 'obesity paradox', these contradictory findings challenge the conventional wisdom that being obese has a negative effect on health.

The study was based on nearly 3,000 people – nearly 500 of whom were diagnosed with dementia over a five-and-a-half-year period.

Researchers identified that while obesity in mid-life was associated with a 40 percent increased risk of dementia, they also concluded that at ages 60 to 65, it was associated with a lower risk.

Previous research has identified a strong link between obesity and dementia due to the inflammatory effects of a larger body on the blood vessels that serve the brain, high blood pressure and increased plaque in the arteries.

The underlying reason for the paradox is not clear. Some scientists explain the findings may be due to the fact people living with obesity may see their doctors more frequently for those health problems that can contribute to dementia, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure - and the resulting treatment protects them against future brain diseases.