Cited by 811Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsObesity, Physical Activity, Diet

An 18-Year Follow-up of Overweight and Risk of Alzheimer Disease

Gustafson, Deborah, Rothenberg, Elisabet, Blennow, Kaj, Steen, Bertil, Skoog, Ingmar·2003·Archives of Internal Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are epidemic in Western societies and constitute a major public health problem because of adverse effects on vascular health. Vascular factors may play a role in the development of a rapidly growing disease of late life, Alzheimer disease (AD). Using body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters), we examined whether overweight is a risk factor for dementia and AD. METHODS: The relationship between BMI and dementia risk was investigated in a representative cohort of 392 nondemented Swedish adults who were followed up from age 70 to 88 years, with the use of neuropsychiatric, anthropometric, and other measurements. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses included BMI, blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cigarette smoking, socioeconomic status, and treatment for hypertension. RESULTS: During the 18-year follow-up (4184.8 risk-years), 93 participants were diagnosed as having dementia. Women who developed dementia between ages 79 and 88 years were overweight, with a higher average BMI at age 70 years (27.7 vs 25.7; P =.007), 75 years (27.9 vs 25.0; P<.001), and 79 years (26.9 vs 25.1; P =.02) compared with nondemented women. A higher degree of overweight was observed in women who developed AD at 70 years (29.3; P =.009), 75 years (29.6; P<.001), and 79 years (28.2; P =.003) compared with nondemented women. For every 1.0 increase in BMI at age 70 years, AD risk increased by 36%. These associations were not found in men. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight is epidemic in Western societies. Our data suggest that overweight at high ages is a risk factor for dementia, particularly AD, in women. This may have profound implications for dementia prevention.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archinte.163.13.1524

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Authors
Gustafson, D., Rothenberg, E., Blennow, K., Steen, B., & Skoog, I.
Affiliations
Utah State University (US)
Corresponding author
Gustafson, Deborah
Venue
Archives of Internal Medicine
Published
2003-07-14
Volume
163
Issue
13
Pages
1524
ISSN
0003-9926 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2066630911
Cited by
811
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 42
FWCI
22.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Keywords
overweight, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, dementia risk, body mass index, sex differences, older adults, vascular risk factors, dementia prevention
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Analysis of Variance, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Obesity, Risk Factors, Sweden, Body Mass Index, Incidence, Chi-Square Distribution, Proportional Hazards Models

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