Being obese as a child may increase risk of dementia in old age, 30-year study reveals

Research suggests that overweight children may be more prone to dementia later in life.

A study of 1,200 children that followed over 30 years found that fitter and leaner teens had better thinking skills later in life.

Scientists believe their increased cognitive abilities may protect them from being deprived of their memories in old age.

Childhood obesity rates have skyrocketed in recent years, with one-third of teens gaining weight by the time they start high school.

The increase observed in adults can be attributed to junk food diets and a sedentary lifestyle.

Currently, there is no cure for dementia, the umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological conditions.

However, there is no proven way to prevent memory loss.

Staying healthy and exercising in middle age has been repeatedly linked to preventing dementia.

New research published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine suggests that the protective effect may begin earlier in life.

Lead author Professor Michele Callisaya, of Monash University in Melbourne, said the findings support public health strategies to reduce childhood obesity.

“Strategic development…is important as it can help improve cognitive performance in middle age,” he said.

“The study also shows that protective strategies against future cognitive decline may need to begin in early childhood.”

He said this is “so that the brain can develop enough reserves against the development of conditions like dementia.”

The study, which began in 1985, tested 1,244 children how fast they could run a mile, how much they could jump, how fast they could run 50 meters, and how many push-ups they could do in 30 seconds.

The children also took their waist-to-hip ration to gauge how fat or thin they were.

Participants were retested for their cognitive abilities between 2017 and 2019, only this time when they were in their 40s.

The tests evaluated their reaction time, memory, and attention span.

By observing their processing speed and attention, the scientists found that the fitter and leaner children had higher test scores.

The authors said this is important because declines in cognitive performance in middle age are associated with an increased likelihood of mild cognitive impairment and overt dementia in old age.

Being fit as a child is believed to improve cardiovascular health by keeping the blood vessels that feed the brain in good condition.

This year’s data showed that the percentage of obese four- and five-year-olds increased by 46% from 2019/20 to 2020/21.

Rates have increased from one in ten children with obesity in freshman year to one in seven.

In the United States, one-fifth of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 are obese.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. It is expected to increase to 1.5 million by 2040.

According to current estimates, approximately 5.8 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.

Globally, the number of cases of dementia is expected to triple by 2050, with 153 million people living with the condition within a few decades.

WHAT IS DEMENTATION? The deadly disease that takes away the agony of your memories

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological disorders.

GLOBAL CARE

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking, and behavior.

There are many different types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common.

Some people may have a combination of dementias.

Regardless of the type of diagnosis, each person experiences dementia in a unique way.

Dementia is a global problem, but it is more common in wealthier countries where people are more likely to live very old.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING?

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that there are more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, and more than 500,000 of them have Alzheimer’s.

It is estimated that the number of dementia patients in the UK will exceed 1 million by 2025.

There are approximately 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients in the United States. A similar percentage increase is expected for the next few years.

As a person ages, the risk of developing dementia also increases.

The number of diagnoses is increasing, but many people with dementia are still thought to be undiagnosed.

IS THERE A TREATMENT?

There is currently no cure for dementia.

But new drugs can slow progression, and the earlier they are detected, the more effective treatments are.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association