Keep your weight in check for better cognitive function, says study
Posted on: 20/Oct/2016 5:49:04 PM
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Arizona in the US has said that a higher body mass index, or BMI, can negatively impact cognitive functioning in older adults.
Say the researchers, Higher BMI may lead to increased inflammation which can negatively impact brain function and cognition. The higher your BMI, the more your inflammation goes up.
The researchers analysed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, which includes over 12 years` worth of information on the health, well-being and social and economic circumstances of the English population age 50 and older. They had information on study participants` BMI, inflammation and cognition, and the study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, found the same outcome in both samples.
According to the researchers, The higher participants` body mass at the first time point in the study, the greater the change in their CRP levels over the next four years.
CRP stands for C-reactive protein, which is a marker in the blood of systemic inflammation in your body. Change in CRP over four years then predicted change in cognition six years after the start of the study. The body mass of these people predicted their cognitive decline through their levels of systemic inflammation.
