Mid- to Late-life body mass index trajectories, dementia and brain damage – the AGES-Reykjavik cohort study

Thursday, October 11, 2012 — Poster Session III
10:00 a.m. – Noon	Natcher Conference Center, Building 45	NIA	EPID-2

Authors

• E Albanese
• B Davis
• P Johnsson
• M Chang
• T Aspelund
• T Harris
• V Gudnason
• L Launer

Abstract

Background: Evidence on the association between adiposity and dementia is conflicting. We examined the association of mid- to late-life body mass index (BMI) trajectories with dementia and late-life measures of brain atrophy and cerebrovascular damage. Methods: In 3,705 men and women from the AGES-Reykjavik study we calculated BMI (Kg/m2) from height and weight measured in midlife and late-life. Clinical dementia diagnosis was based on international criteria, and brain and white matter (WM) lesions volumes and measures of cerebrovascular damage were obtained from MRI scans. Analyses were adjusted for relevant confounders. Results: In fully adjusted models, compared to those with low BMI both in mid- and late-life, the high-to-low BMI trajectory was associated with an increased dementia risk in women (OR=1.96; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.51) and not in men; women with high BMI in both mid- and late-life had larger brain volumes (p>0.007) and in men high BMI in midlife but low in late-life was associated with smaller brain volumes (p<0.004). BMI trajectories did not predict brain infarcts or microbleeds. Interpretation: Our findings support the hypothesis that high midlife BMI may increase risk of dementia and brain damage, which in turn may cause a reduction of body size in late-life.

back to top