Open AccessChange in cognition and body mass index in relation to preclinical dementia
Author(s) -
Karlsson Ida K.,
Zhan Yiqiang,
Gatz Margaret,
Reynolds Chandra A.,
Dahl Aslan Anna K.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: translational research and clinical interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.49
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 2352-8737
DOI - 10.1002/trc2.12176
Subject(s) - dementia , cognition , body mass index , association (psychology) , psychology , gerontology , cognitive decline , longitudinal study , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , disease , pathology , psychotherapist
Abstract Introduction To study if declining cognition drives weight loss in preclinical dementia, we examined the longitudinal association between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive abilities in individuals who did or did not later develop dementia. Methods Using data from individuals spanning age 50 to 89, we applied dual change score models separately in individuals who remained cognitively intact (n = 1498) and those who were diagnosed with dementia within 5 years of last assessment (n = 459). Results Among the cognitively intact, there was a bidirectional association: Stable BMI predicted stable cognition and vice versa. Among individuals who were subsequently diagnosed with dementia, the association was unidirectional: Higher BMI predicted declining cognition but cognition did not predict change in BMI. Discussion Although BMI and cognition stabilized each other when cognitive functioning was intact, this buffering effect was missing in the preclinical dementia phase. This finding indicates that weight loss in preclinical dementia is not driven by declining cognition.