Weight change in old age increases dementia risk

Senior citizens getting their weight and height taken at a health carnival. Rapid changes in weight, whether up or down, is associated with an increased risk of dementia. — MBPJ

Older people who experience significant weight gain or weight loss could be raising their risk of developing dementia, suggests a study from South Korea published on May 20, 2019, in the online journal BMJ Open.

Dementia is an important health problem, especially with increasing life expectancy and an ageing population. In 2015, there were an estimated 46.8 million people diagnosed with dementia.