Association of body composition trajectories with changes in cognitive performance in the Look AHEAD study
Authors' conclusion
Weight loss approaches that preserve ALM and function may lead to reduced cognitive decline compared with weight loss alone. The improved ability to target interventions toward those who are more resilient to aging-related body composition changes may prevent unintended consequences of weight loss.
Study context
- Population
- Look AHEAD-MIND participants with T2D and overweight or obesity
- Participants
- 972 participants
- Comparison
- DXA body composition trajectories and sarcopenia vs cognitive change
- Primary endpoint
- Cognitive change by total body fat and ALM trajectories
Methodological detailslatent trajectory analysis, mixed linear regression models
- Latent trajectory analysis
- Mixed linear regression models
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Cognitive scores by body composition trajectory
- Gradual decrease in total body fat and no decrease in appendicular lean mass (ALM) were significantly independently associated with higher cognitive scores vs other trajectories
- Three latent trajectories each for total body fat and ALM
- Full adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic factors substantially attenuated the estimates
Further findings
Cognitive score by sarcopenia and BMI categories
- Differences in cognitive score were large for sarcopenia, but not for obesity
Original publication
Association of body composition trajectories with changes in cognitive performance in the Look AHEAD study. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 20 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →