Obesity and IBD Linked to Higher Dementia Risk

Aug, 2020 - By SMI

The risk might be particularly high for women as the association between dementia and obesity is higher in women.

Two observational studies provide strong evidence that obesity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia in later life. The studies are observational, and cannot determine casualty, and they both build on prior research reaching similar conclusions. In the first research, conducted by the research team from the University College London, the researchers examined obese individuals aged around 50 or more. The team found that they are at a 31% higher risk of developing dementia than those who are in normal BMI (body mass index) range.

BMI ranging from 18.5 to 24.9 is classified as a normal range. The research was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. During this research, the researchers examined around 7,000 obese individuals for up to 15 years. Moreover, the team found that individuals with a BMI greater than 30 are more likely to develop dementia during follow-up compared to those who are in normal BMI range. The risk might be particularly high for women as the association between dementia and obesity is higher in women, increasing the risk of dementia by 39%.

In the second research, conducted by the Taiwan-based researchers, the researchers examined the connection between IBD and dementia. The research was published in the Gut journal. The gut-brain connection has provided convincing insights into the connection between mental health issues, inflammation, and gut bacteria. The team examined around 1,742 individuals with IBD for up to 16 years. The researchers found that individuals with any type of IBD were more than twice as likely to develop some form of dementia compared to the healthy group. Moreover, Alzheimer's appears to be significantly associated, with IBD sufferers six times more likely to develop the disease compared to the healthy group.