brain/obesity study

[Guest guest]

Here's the link. Bottom line: being overweight or fat is bad for the

brain.

http://www.loni.ucla.edu/~thompson/ObesityBrain2009.pdf

Abstract:

Obesity is

associated with increased risk for cardiovascular health problems

including diabetes,

hypertension, and stroke. These cardiovascular afflictions increase risk

for cognitive decline and

dementia, but it is unknown whether these factors, specifically obesity

and Type II diabetes, are associated

with specific patterns of brain atrophy. We used tensor-based morphometry

(TBM) to examine

gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volume differences in 94 elderly

subjects who remained cognitively

normal for at least 5 years after their scan. Bivariate analyses with

corrections for multiple

comparisons strongly linked body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma insulin

(FPI) levels, and Type II

Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) with atrophy in frontal, temporal, and

subcortical brain regions. A multiple

regression model, also correcting for multiple comparisons, revealed that

BMI was still negatively correlated

with brain atrophy (FDR

<

5%), while DM2 and

FPI were no longer associated with any volume

differences. In an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) model controlling for

age, gender, and race,

obese subjects with a high BMI (BMI

>

30) showed

atrophy in the frontal lobes, anterior cingulate

gyrus, hippocampus, and thalamus compared with individuals with a normal

BMI (18.5–25). Overweight

subjects (BMI: 25–30) had atrophy in the basal ganglia and corona radiata

of the WM. Overall

brain volume did not differ between overweight and obese persons. Higher

BMI was associated with

lower brain volumes in overweight and obese elderly subjects. Obesity is

therefore associated with

detectable brain volume deficits in cognitively normal elderly

subjects.

Maco

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

From the text of the paper Maco posted:

" ........ revealed that BMI was still negatively correlated with brain atrophy ...... "

Do they really mean to say that high BMI is associated with low brain atrophy? Or is it me that is confused? (More than likely?)

Rodney.

[Guest guest]

One of those things that doesn't make sense, to me. The older folks who get dementia are not obese or they wouldn't have gotten that old.

People may be obese and don't die but they tend to slim as their muscles atrophy.

My one example in my families, is the thin one, the health nut, is the one with Alzheimer's.

Another who we thought was getting foggy at 86, had a verbal test and passed with colors.

Regards

[ ] Re: brain/obesity study

Hi folks:

From the text of the paper Maco posted:

" ........ revealed that BMI was still negatively correlated with brain atrophy ...... "

Do they really mean to say that high BMI is associated with low brain atrophy? Or is it me that is confused? (More than likely?)

Rodney.

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