Abstract
Adipose tissue is the largest endocrine gland in the body, yet only recently has its role in neurodegenerative disease been considered. Prospective population level evidence has emerged to show that both obesity and overweight, is associated with an increased risk of all cause dementia, Alzheimers disease (AD), and underlying neurodegenerative changes. Weight loss in late life however is associated with dementia, and those categorized as underweight are also at a greater risk of dementia. Given the current epidemic of obesity, and the expected age-related increase in dementia incidence, even a small association between these two diseases has far reaching public health implications. However, due to the effects of both AD-associated weight loss and age-related changes in body composition, there are methodological challenges in appropriately evaluating obesity as a risk factor for developing dementia. There is a need to take a ‘life course approach’ and to consider the role of risk factors prior to the onset of old age. Our work has shown that both obesity and overweight, as measured by body mass index and skinfold thickness, in middle-age are strongly associated with an increased risk of all cause dementia, Alzheimer disease & Vascular dementia, independent of the development of diabetes and cardiovascular-related morbidities. There is also value in assessing regional body shape distributions of adiposity, particular the role of abdominal obesity. Mechanistic pathways such as adipocyte secreted proteins and hormones, and inflammatory cytokines could explain the association between obesity and increased risk of dementia.
Keywords: Obesity, Alzheimer disease, body mass index, adiposity, dementia, leptin, adioponectin, abdominal obesity
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: The Epidemiology of Adiposity and Dementia
Volume: 4 Issue: 2
Author(s): Rachel A. Whitmer
Affiliation:
Keywords: Obesity, Alzheimer disease, body mass index, adiposity, dementia, leptin, adioponectin, abdominal obesity
Abstract: Adipose tissue is the largest endocrine gland in the body, yet only recently has its role in neurodegenerative disease been considered. Prospective population level evidence has emerged to show that both obesity and overweight, is associated with an increased risk of all cause dementia, Alzheimers disease (AD), and underlying neurodegenerative changes. Weight loss in late life however is associated with dementia, and those categorized as underweight are also at a greater risk of dementia. Given the current epidemic of obesity, and the expected age-related increase in dementia incidence, even a small association between these two diseases has far reaching public health implications. However, due to the effects of both AD-associated weight loss and age-related changes in body composition, there are methodological challenges in appropriately evaluating obesity as a risk factor for developing dementia. There is a need to take a ‘life course approach’ and to consider the role of risk factors prior to the onset of old age. Our work has shown that both obesity and overweight, as measured by body mass index and skinfold thickness, in middle-age are strongly associated with an increased risk of all cause dementia, Alzheimer disease & Vascular dementia, independent of the development of diabetes and cardiovascular-related morbidities. There is also value in assessing regional body shape distributions of adiposity, particular the role of abdominal obesity. Mechanistic pathways such as adipocyte secreted proteins and hormones, and inflammatory cytokines could explain the association between obesity and increased risk of dementia.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Whitmer A. Rachel, The Epidemiology of Adiposity and Dementia, Current Alzheimer Research 2007; 4 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720507780362065
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720507780362065 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New Advances in the Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Alzheimer's Disease
Aims and Scope: Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing prevalence that demands concerted efforts to advance our understanding and strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. This thematic issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from multidisciplinary perspectives to address ...read more
Current updates on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroinflammation is an invariable hallmark of chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders and has long been considered a potential drug target for Alzheimer?s disease (AD) and dementia. Significant evidence of inflammatory processes as a feature of AD is provided by the presence of inflammatory markers in plasma, CSF and postmortem brain ...read more
Deep Learning for Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing number of individuals affected yearly. Deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has shown immense potential in various domains, including healthcare. This thematic issue of Current Alzheimer Research explores the application of deep learning techniques in advancing our ...read more
Diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of dementia
Dementia affects 18 million people worldwide. Dementia is a syndrome of symptoms caused by brain disease, usually chronic or progressive, clinically characterized by multiple impairments of higher cortical functions such as memory, thinking, orientation, and learning. In addition, in the course of dementia, cognitive deficits are observed, which often hinder ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
<i>Rhizoma Coptidis</i> for Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia: A Literature Review
Current Vascular Pharmacology Inhibition of Tau Protein Aggregation by Rhodanine-based Compounds Solubilized Via Specific Formulation Additives to Improve Bioavailability and Cell Viability
Current Alzheimer Research Optimal Treatment of Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Consequences of Iron Accumulation in Microglia and its Implications in Neuropathological Conditions
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Editorial:Advanced Methods of Biomedical Signal Processing for Early Detection of Alzheimer`s Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Pleasure as an Overlooked Target of Substance Use Disorder Research and Treatment
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Neuron-to-microglia Crosstalk in Psychiatric Disorders
Current Neuropharmacology Differential Regulation of Neurotoxin in HIV Clades: Role of Cocaine and Methamphetamine
Current HIV Research Metabolism of Selegiline [(-)-Deprenyl)]
Current Medicinal Chemistry Investigation on Risk Factor of Vascular Thrombotic Diseases in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) ABC Multidrug Transporters: Target for Modulation of Drug Pharmacokinetics and Drug-Drug Interactions
Current Drug Targets Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Degenerating Brain: A Comparison of Normal Aging, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington's Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Global View on Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes Mellitus: Threats, Risks and Treatment Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes Mellitus
Current Alzheimer Research Glycosyltransferase and Glypiation Inhibitors
Current Organic Chemistry Cholesterol and Alzheimers Disease: Clinical and Experimental Models Suggest Interactions of Different Genetic, Dietary and Environmental Risk Factors
Current Drug Targets Immune Modulation of HIV Replication: Relevance to HIV Immuno- and Neuro-Pathogenesis
Current HIV Research Comparative Evaluation of Ethanolic Extracts of Bacopa monnieri, Evolvulus alsinoides, Tinospora cordifolia and their Combinations on Cognitive Functions in Rats
Current Aging Science Genes and Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Machine Learning and Social Network Analysis Applied to Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial Review of 2014
Current Radiopharmaceuticals