Obesity and cognition – information from a specialist in Frankfurt

FRANKFURT – At least 21 per cent of all adults in Germany are considered to be morbidly overweight (obese). This means that their body mass index (BMI) is higher than 30 kg / m2. Obesity has been proven to be a risk factor for secondary diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic joint pain and sleep apnoea. ‘In addition, current research suggests that obesity could also have an impact on brain function,’ explains Prof Dr med Dr h.c. Christian Wüster, endocrinologist for the Frankfurt region, describes another possible complication of obesity.

Can obesity accelerate cognitive decline? Specialist for Frankfurt provides information

Scientists at Leiden University Hospital in the Netherlands have investigated the relationship between body weight and brain function in a large-scale study(1). They collected data from more than 12,000 people with an average age of 62 years. 43 per cent of the test subjects were overweight, 18 per cent suffered from morbid obesity. In order to track down the possible cognitive effects of body weight, the researchers examined the participants’ brains using magnetic resonance imaging. The result: in the obese people, the subcortical grey matter in the brain was significantly reduced, although there were differences between the sexes.

In men, the entire subcortical grey matter, with the exception of the amygdala, was affected; in women, only the grey matter in the globus pallidus was affected. In both sexes, the researchers were also able to detect changes in the microstructure of the white matter.

Specialist for Frankfurt: Negative health consequences of obesity are proven

Does this mean that obesity actually leads to brain changes? Specialist Prof Dr Wüster puts this into perspective: ‘It remains unclear in this study whether the abnormalities found in obese people can really be attributed to obesity. This would have to be clarified with the help of further research.’ What is beyond question, however, are the negative effects of excessive body weight on the cardiovascular system and the skeleton. ‘Being overweight can lead to a reduced life expectancy due to various secondary diseases,’ warns the expert. At Prof. Dr Wüster’s Hormone and Metabolism Centre, obesity patients from Frankfurt who are concerned about their state of health also receive comprehensive medical care.

(1) Dekkers IA et al. Radiology 2019; 291: 763-771.