The effect of body mass index on global brain volume in middle-aged adults: a cross sectional study

Michael A Ward¹^,2 , Cynthia M Carlsson¹^,2 , Mehul A Trivedi¹^,2 , Mark A Sager² and Sterling C Johnson¹^,2

¹Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Wm. S. Middleton VA Hospital, Madison, WI, USA

²Geriatrics and Adult Development, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI, USA

author email corresponding author email

BMC Neurology 2005, 5:23doi:10.1186/1471-2377-5-23


Published:	2 December 2005

Abstract

Background

Obesity causes or exacerbates a host of medical conditions, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and endocrine diseases. Recently obesity in elderly women was associated with greater risk of dementia, white matter ischemic changes, and greater brain atrophy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether body type affects global brain volume, a marker of atrophy, in middle-aged men and women.

Methods

T1-weighted 3D volumetric magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess global brain volume for 114 individuals 40 to 66 years of age (average = 54.2 years; standard deviation = 6.6 years; 43 men and 71 women). Total cerebrospinal fluid and brain volumes were obtained with an automated tissue segmentation algorithm. A regression model was used to determine the effect of age, body mass index (BMI), and other cardiovascular risk factors on brain volume and cognition.

Results

Age and BMI were each associated with decreased brain volume. BMI did not predict cognition in this sample; however elevated diastolic blood pressure was associated with poorer episodic learning performance.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that middle-aged obese adults may already be experiencing differentially greater brain atrophy, and may potentially be at greater risk for future cognitive decline.