You know that we are getting heftier. Oh, let’s cut the crap. We are becoming obese. And, we know that a 0.1 change in BMI is associated with a 1% change (for the worse, of course) in our well-being (as we age).
Well, now we can have new worries. A new study in Neurology of some 6401 participants indicates that our obesity leads to dementia. (Now, wait a minute- I know it’s election season and we are all going a little batty with the claims, counter-claims, little white lies, big whoppers, and the like- but this is really serious.) And, it makes no difference if we are metabolically healthy- this extra weight is clearly associated with the loss of mental acuity.
The study, under the leadership of Dr. Singh-Manoux, included Drs. Czernichow, Elbas, Sabia, Hagger-Johnson, Zins, Burnner, Nabi, Kivimake and Dugravot and Kaffashian (all at European institutions), was funded by NIH among others, and can be found here. The participants were folks with a mean age of 50 (71% male, ranging in age from 39 to 63). Half of the participants (52.7%) were of normal weight, 38.2% were overweight, and 9.1% were obese. In addition, some 31% of the participants had metabolic risk factors (of which 350 individuals or 60% of the 582 obese participants had two or more risk factors). That’s all at the start of the 10 year study.
Over the ensuing decade, the participants underwent cognitive tests to assess their short-term memory, verbal fluency (an indicator of the brain’s executive function), and reasoning capabilities. (This study panel is part of the Whitehall II cohort, the 10,308 British Civil Servants that have been studied for a while, now.) Of the obese folks with two or more risk factors, their cognitive decline was 22.5% faster than that observed among the normal-weight, metabolocally normal participants. Otherwise, the decline was similar in rate among the three different cohorts.
So, what does this really tell us? If we are metabolically healthy, our decline in cognitive ability with age is pretty straight-forward. But, if we possess a risk factor or two- and are obese, the decline in our mental capabilities is a much more rapid decline. It’s time to lose that weight- for our physical health and our mental health.
In the words of Animal house, “Fat, drunk, and stupid, are no way to go through life, son” 😉 It is weird we eat for pleasure these days. We eat as a recreational activity, out of boredom, and sometimes even when we are hungry HAHAHA! We fail to realize that food is a drug, and like all beneficial drugs needs to be used reasonably. If only there were some rules about food, and consuming food we could follow…hmmmmm
Great post!
Lisa Brandel recently posted..Midnight Angel by Lisa Brandel
There are rules about food and consuming it…. We just don’t follow them, Lisa.
I’m an overweight person and I have to disagree with this post for two reasons.
1.) There is nothing wrong with my cognitive thinking ability and
2.) There is nothing wrong with my cognitive thinking ability.
Jeffrey Scott recently posted..Wyalusing – Sunset Over the Mississippi
I thought that was what you thought, but then I idea was taken when I voted (“eye” “dee”, ah sir…)
Terrible, I know. Proof that the weight issue needs to be considered…
Hell, I am overweight. No, I am fat. I expect all sorts of things to try to kill me off either piecemeal or all at once. Dementia is just going to have to take a number. Thanks for a little more guilt, Roy. Oh yeah, stress has to take a number, too.
Ann Mullen recently posted..Seniors Helping Seniors: Making a Difference Through Meals on Wheels
Gee… I didn’t think guilt was part of your religion….
Seriously, Ann, there’s no requirement that either of us couldn’t lose a little weight to save our sanity.
Hi Roy!
it is the problem which is occur almost in every people but i have no.in this situation you must be control yourself and avoid junk food.daily exercise control your body .
anshul recently posted..Online Banking Software
Yes, we certainly need to avoid junk food (and this IS the kettle calling the pot black). And, exercise is vital to keep our bodies and minds healthy- but they it doesn’t always slim us down (which perplexes some folks).