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Last Updated: Apr 16, 2008 - 5:52:06 PM |
MONDAY April 7, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study found obese women were more likely to suffer brain cell loss linked to dementia.
Swedish researchers found the association between obesity and brain atrophy - the abnormal loss of neurons after following 290 women over 24 years.
For the study, they measured the body mass index (BMI) of the women aged 70 to 84 between 1968 and 1992 and conducted a CT scan of their brains on their final visit.
Deborah Gustafson and colleagues at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden found almost half of the participants showed brain cell death in the temporal lobes in the end of study.
Those who had the brain cell loss were more likely to have a higher BMI than those who showed no brain cell loss, according to the study.
Brain shrinkage in this area has been found associated with Alzheimer's disease and decline in cognitive function.
Specifically, the researchers found every 1 to 1.5 point increase in BMI was linked to a 13 to 15% increase in the risk of temporal lobe shrinkage.
Women who had a BMI of 30 or greater were much more likely to have suffered brain tissue loss.
But Gustafson cautioned this study did not establish a causal relationship between brain cell loss and obesity.
But there is a possibility that obesity contributes to vascular problems leading to neuronal death and increasing the risk of dementia. Obesity may also raise the level of cortisol, which could cause brain cell atrophy.
The study was published in a recent issue of Neurology.
Editor's note: Obesity may or may not play a direct role in the loss of brain cells. It would be wise for people to look beyond obesity to find out what actually attributes to dementia. Ask what causes obesity, and then you may find some clue.
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