What does this research mean for the field?

Midlife obesity (BMI >= 30) is associated with a 70% increased odds of late-life amyloid positivity, while late-life obesity shows no such association. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research examines how midlife and late-life obesity measures relate to brain amyloid deposition in adults without dementia.

February 2, 2026Stroke

Abstract DP335: Association of Midlife and Late-life Obesity and Adiposity Measures with Late-life Brain Amyloid Deposition: An Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

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Key result

Midlife obesity linked to ~70% greater odds of late-life amyloid positivity.

Why the study?

Obesity has differential associations with brain health across the life course, but most studies only use BMI rather than fat distribution measures to examine risk.

Does midlife or late-life obesity increase the odds of late-life brain amyloid deposition in adults without dementia?

Population

803 dementia-free participants in the ARIC study

Comparison

Midlife and late-life obesity measures (BMI, WC, WHR) vs non-obese measures

Design

Prospective cohort study

Follow-up

From 1987-1989 to 2011-2025

Authors

YDYiling DongShanghai Sixth People's Hospital VMValerie MorrillNational Institutes of Health DWDean F. WongUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Supports targeting midlife obesity for amyloid prevention; challenges late-life focus and leaves open causal confirmation in trials.

Key Points

This research examines how midlife and late-life obesity measures relate to brain amyloid deposition in adults without dementia.
Participants followed from 1987-1989 for midlife assessment and PET scans in late life between 2011-2025.
Obesity measured using BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio at both midlife and late life.
Logistic regressions analyzed associations between obesity measures and amyloid positivity while adjusting for demographics and vascular risk factors.
803 participants were included, with 365 showing amyloid positivity.
Midlife obesity significantly increased the odds of amyloid positivity by 70% compared to normal BMI.
No association was found between late-life obesity and amyloid positivity, nor between waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio and amyloid positivity.

Structured PICO

Does midlife or late-life obesity increase the odds of late-life brain amyloid deposition in adults without dementia?

Population

803 adults without dementia, followed from midlife (ages 45-64) to late-life (ages 67-95)

Intervention

Obesity and adiposity measures (categorical BMI, sex-specific waist circumference, and sex-specific waist-to-hip ratio) in midlife and late-life

Comparator

Normal BMI and adiposity measures

Outcome

Late-life brain amyloid deposition (amyloid positivity, standardized uptake value ratio >1.2) on florbetapir PETsurrogate

Midlife obesity, but not late-life obesity, is significantly associated with increased odds of late-life brain amyloid deposition, highlighting midlife as a critical period for future brain health.

Cite This Study

Dong et al. (2026) studied this question. Midlife obesity (BMI >= 30) was associated with a 70% increased odds of late-life amyloid positivity, while late-life obesity showed no such association.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6980fd81c1c9540dea80f3a2 https://doi.org/10.1161/str.57.suppl_1.dp335

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Abstract DP335: Association of Midlife and Late-life Obesity and Adiposity Measures with Late-life Brain Amyloid Deposition: An Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Abstract DP335: Association of Midlife and Late-life Obesity and Adiposity Measures with Late-life Brain Amyloid Deposition: An Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider