According to a study by researchers from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Illinois, the more an older woman weighed, the more she was prone to and suffered from less brain activity, which can result in dementia. Research was based on an analysis of data from the Women’s Health Initiative
The scientists focused on 8,745 participants who were at least 65 and who participated in clinical trials for hormone replacement therapy. For this cohort, data was available on height, weight and body mass index, as well as cognitive activity measured by a test called the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination or 3MSE.
The researchers found that the higher a woman’s body mass index, the lower her result on the 3MSE test. This test score fell by nearly one point with each additional point on the BMI scale.
Researchers hypothesize that circulation problems and inflammation caused by obesity leads to brain damage, which increases the risk of developing dementia.
They also warn, however, this analysis does not apply to everyone.