Memel Molly, Bourassa Kyle, Woolverton Cindy, Sbarra David A
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, 1503 E. University Blvd., Bldg #68., Rm. 312, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0068, USA.
Ann Behav Med. 2016 Jun;50(3):397-408. doi: 10.1007/s12160-015-9768-2.
Physical activity and body mass predict cognition in the elderly. However, mixed evidence suggests that obesity is associated with poorer cognition, while also protecting against cognitive decline in older age.
We investigated whether body mass independently predicted cognition in older age and whether these associations changed over time.
A latent curve structural equation modeling approach was used to analyze data from a sample of aging adults (N = 8442) split into two independent subsamples, collected over 6 years.
Lower baseline Body Mass Index (BMI) and higher physical activity independently predicted greater baseline cognition (p < 0.001). Decreases in BMI and physical activity independently predicted greater decline in the slope of cognition (p < 0.001).
Our results support the obesity paradox in cognitive aging, with lower baseline body mass predicting better cognition, but less decline over time protecting against cognitive decline. We discuss how weight loss in the elderly may serve as a useful indicator of co-occurring cognitive decline, and we discuss implications for health care professionals.
身体活动和体重可预测老年人的认知能力。然而，相互矛盾的证据表明，肥胖与较差的认知能力相关，同时也能预防老年人的认知衰退。
我们研究了体重是否能独立预测老年人的认知能力，以及这些关联是否随时间变化。
采用潜在曲线结构方程建模方法，对6年间收集的8442名老年人样本数据进行分析，该样本被分为两个独立子样本。
较低的基线体重指数（BMI）和较高的身体活动水平可独立预测更好的基线认知能力（p < 0.001）。BMI和身体活动水平的下降可独立预测认知能力斜率的更大下降（p < 0.001）。
我们的结果支持认知老化中的肥胖悖论，即较低的基线体重预示着更好的认知能力，但随着时间推移下降较少可预防认知衰退。我们讨论了老年人体重减轻如何可能成为同时发生的认知衰退的有用指标，并讨论了对医疗保健专业人员的启示。
