Longitudinal body weight dynamics in relation to cognitive decline over two decades: A prospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Weight loss and large BWV over a long time independently predicted faster cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults, underscoring the importance of long-term dynamic body weight monitoring.
Study context
- Population
- Health and Retirement Study participants (mean age 68.0 years); body weight reported biennially 1993/1994–2016, cognitive function measured biennially 1998–2016
- Participants
- 10,340 participants
- Exposure
- Weight loss or weight gain vs stable weight; top vs bottom body weight variability (BWV) tertile
- Outcome
- Cognitive change z score per year
Methodological detailsbiennial measurements, linear mixed regression models
- Biennial measurements
- Linear mixed regression models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mean difference (95% CI)
Weight lossvs Stable weightfaster cognitive decline with weight loss
−0.023(−0.027 to −0.019)
- Weight gain vs Stable weight · slower cognitive decline with weight gain
- β 0.006 (95% CI 0.003–0.009)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | β (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| BWV and cognitive change z score per yearTop BWV tertile vs Bottom BWV tertile · faster cognitive decline with larger BWV | −0.003 (−0.006 to −0.0002) |
Episodic and working memory
- Similar associations were observed for episodic and working memory
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Longitudinal body weight dynamics in relation to cognitive decline over two decades: A prospective cohort study. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 13 February 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →