Department of Neuroscience, University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
J Am Coll Nutr. 2012 Apr;31(2):79-86. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2012.10720012.
Obesity is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Whether weight loss improves cognition in older obese adults is not known. The objective was to investigate the effects of intentional weight loss on physical and cognitive function in middle-aged and older obese adults attending a weight loss clinic.
Eleven male and 39 female nonsmoking, adult obese (body mass index 30-50 kg/m(2)) participants were recruited. Participants were stratified by age: middle aged (30-59 years) and older aged (≥ 60 years). The weight loss target for each subject was 8% to 12% of initial body weight. Information on anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance, hand-grip strength, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), and Trail-Making Test (TMT) A and B were collected at baseline and after weight loss.
At baseline, older participants showed a nonsignificant trend for lower global cognitive function (MMSE, SPMSQ) and significantly slower processing speed (TMT-A). Twenty-one participants completed the weight loss study. The average weight loss relative to baseline was 9.7% ± 2.1%. Weight loss was associated with significant improvements in hand-grip strength and cognitive function (MMSE, TMT-A, and TMT-B). MMSE scores improved significantly only in older obese participants (p < 0.05).
Weight loss in middle-aged and in older obese participants has a beneficial effect on cognitive and physical function. If confirmed in future trials, weight loss can significantly affect public health strategies for the prevention of dementia as well as on the clinical management of obesity.
肥胖是认知能力下降和痴呆的一个危险因素。减肥是否能改善老年肥胖者的认知能力尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨在参加减肥诊所的中年和老年肥胖者中，有计划的体重减轻对身体和认知功能的影响。
共招募了 11 名男性和 39 名女性非吸烟的成年肥胖者（体重指数为 30-50kg/m²）。参与者按年龄分层：中年（30-59 岁）和老年（≥60 岁）。每个受试者的减肥目标为初始体重的 8%至 12%。在基线和减肥后收集了人体测量学、生物电阻抗、手握力、简易精神状态检查（MMSE）、简短精神状态问卷（SPMSQ）和连线测试 A 和 B 的信息。
基线时，老年参与者的整体认知功能（MMSE、SPMSQ）呈下降趋势，处理速度（TMT-A）明显较慢，但无统计学意义。21 名参与者完成了减肥研究。与基线相比，平均体重减轻 9.7%±2.1%。体重减轻与手握力和认知功能（MMSE、TMT-A 和 TMT-B）的显著改善相关。只有老年肥胖参与者的 MMSE 评分显著改善（p<0.05）。
中年和老年肥胖者的体重减轻对认知和身体功能有有益的影响。如果在未来的试验中得到证实，体重减轻可以显著影响预防痴呆的公共卫生策略，以及肥胖的临床管理。
