Older women who are overweight may be more susceptible to suffering from memory problems, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
During a recent trial, a team of researchers enrolled more than 8,700 women aged 65 to 79 years in order to determine how excessive weight gain may affect cognitive function. Investigators then scored each participant on a memory test, excluding certain components, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
The results of the study showed that women who carried more weight on their hips than their waist were more likely to develop cognitive degenerate disorders.
Diana Kerwin, assistant professor of medicine and a physician at Northwestern Medicine, stated that “the message is obesity and a higher body mass index (BMI) are not good for your cognition and your memory.” She added that “while the womens scores were still in the normal range, the added weight definitely had a detrimental effect.”
The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that one in eight people aged 65 years and older are diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, which is the most common form of dementia.