Longitudinal Examination of Body Mass Index and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: The HELIAD Study

• Published in: Nutrients 2023-04, Vol.15 (7), p.1795
• Main Authors: Grapsa, Ismini, Mamalaki, Eirini, Ntanasi, Eva, Kosmidis, Mary H, Dardiotis, Efthimios, Hadjigeorgiou, Georgios M, Sakka, Paraskevi, Scarmeas, Nikolaos, Yannakoulia, Mary
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Aged; Aging; Alzheimer's disease; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Body size; Body weight; Body weight loss; Cognition; Cognition disorders in old age; Cognitive ability; cognitive decline; Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology; cognitive functioning; Complications and side effects; Dementia; Dementia disorders; Executive function; Female; Food and nutrition; Geriatrics; Health aspects; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Maintenance; Male; Memory; Mental depression; Neuropsychology; Obesity; older adults; Older people; Overweight; Overweight - epidemiology; Population; Prevention; Risk factors; Weight control; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15071795

Given the increase in the aging population and thus in the prevalence of dementia, the identification of protective factors against cognitive decline is necessary. In a cohort of 1076 non-demented adults ≥ 65 years old (59.7% women) from the HELIAD study, we assessed whether changes in body mass index (BMI) were associated with changes in cognition over a 3-year follow-up period separately for those ≤ 75 and >75 years old. We identified six BMI trajectory groups based on participants' BMI status at baseline and at the first follow-up visit; normal to normal BMI was the reference group. Major cognitive domains were evaluated, and a composite index reflecting global cognition was calculated. In participants aged ≤75 years, weight loss-moving from obesity to overweight or normal BMI-was associated with less decline in the memory composite score over time (β = 0.141; = 0.035), while 3-year maintenance of a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m was related to greater reduction in the visuospatial composite score over time (β = -0.093; = 0.020). Regarding participants aged >75 years, 3-year maintenance of a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m contributed to a slower rate of decline in the memory composite score over time (β = 0.102; = 0.042), whereas weight loss-from overweight to normal BMI-was associated with a decreased attention/processing speed composite score longitudinally (β = -0.275; = 0.043). Our findings indicated that the association between changes in BMI and cognitive functioning was modified by age. Weight management may have the potential to delay cognitive decline in older adults.