Yo-Yo Dieting Could Increase Dementia Risk

虽然这是正常的number on the scale to fluctuatewhen you’relosing weight, if you’re constantly losing and regaining weight (akayo-yo dieting), you could be increasing your risk of developing dementia,among other health issues. Here, a look at the latest science and howwell-balanced eatingcan play a role in keeping the brain healthy.

The latestresearchpublished in BMJ open found older adults who experienced more than a 10% increase or decrease in their body mass index (BMI) over a two-year period had a 20% higher risk of developing dementia than those who had a stable BMI during the same time period. Similarly, other studies have found weight fluctuations of 2.2 pounds per year werelinked with a 10% increased dementia risk.

Researchers believe weight gain leading to a higher BMI couldincrease inflammation, triggering brain changes that lead to dementia. (A separatestudyimplicated inflammation in neurodegeneration in the brain, increasing the risk for cognitive decline).

What’s more, a one-unit drop in BMI waslinked to a 25% increased risk of dementia. Here, researchers note that a significant drop in BMI could be a sign of underlying health issues such ascardiovascular disease, cancer, liver or lung disease, which are all associated with declines in cognitive function, including dementia.

“Focusing onnutrient-dense, whole foodscould help avoid weight fluctuations that are associated with cognitive decline,” says Heather Snyder, PhD, senior director of medical and scientific operations at the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Currently, there is no definitive prescription for preventing or reducing risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. However, there is emerging evidence thathealthy eating styleslike theDASHand地中海diets, which are high in leafy greens,whole grains, leanproteins, likeomega-3 rich fish, and低饱和脂肪, promote both heart and brain health,” says Snyder.

Moderating your alcohol consumptioncould also benefit your brain. A 2019studypublished in the medical journal JAMA found low-to-moderate alcohol consumption could be protective against cognitive decline, even among those at high genetic risk for developing dementia. The mechanism is unclear but study co-author Elzbieta Kuzma, PhD, a research fellow at the University of Exeter Medical School suspects inflammation could play a role.

“It’s important to bear in mind that our findings do not prove a causal relationship [but] they do carry a very optimistic public health message: Although we can’t change our genes, we can try to reduce our risk of dementia byfollowing a healthy lifestyle,” says Kuzma.