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Studies have shown that women over 60 have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia as they lose weight.
Professor Kim Young-sik of the Department of Family Medicine at Seoul Asan Hospital and Professor Seo-young Kang of the International Medical Center confirmed this by analyzing 45,000 adults aged 60-79 without Alzheimer’s disease among participants in the National Health Insurance Service’s health check-up from 2002 to 2003 Sun said.
In the analysis, women tended to have a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease as their body mass index (BMI) decreases.
For women, the risk of Alzheimer’s incidence increased by 1.14 times when the body mass index decreased by 5-10% over the past two years.
During 4 years, the body mass index increased by 1.31 times when ▲ 5-10% decreased ▲ 1.6 times when decreased by 10.1∼15% ▲ 1.68 times when decreased by 15% or more.
In the case of men, the two-year change did not have a significant effect. Men, whose body mass index decreased by 10.1 to 15% over four years, increased their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 1.33 times.
The research team estimated that this result was due to the fact that elderly women often lack protein and other nutrients than men, and they do not have enough exercise.
Professor Kang explained, “When the body mass index decreases, nutrient deficiency and hormonal changes occur. This phenomenon seems to lead to cognitive decline, increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Professor Kim said, “This study suggests that weight loss in old age can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.” “Do” he said.
The research results were recently published in the international academic journal’Scientific Reports’.
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