Key result
Obesity is associated with reduced brain structure and function, but behavioral interventions such as physical activity and caloric restriction may mitigate these negative neurocognitive consequences.
Why the study?
Are associations between obesity and brain health in aging adults modifiable by behavioral interventions?
Are associations between obesity and brain health in aging adults modifiable by behavioral interventions?
Obesity negatively impacts neurocognitive aging through structural and functional brain changes, highlighting the potential importance of behavioral interventions like diet and physical activity to mitigate these effects.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports testing lifestyle interventions to mitigate obesity effects on brain aging; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Obesity is a growing public health problem in the United States, particularly in middle-aged and older adults. Although the key factors leading to a population increase in body weight are still under investigation, there is evidence that certain behavioral interventions can mitigate the negative cognitive and brain ("neurocognitive") health consequences of obesity. The two primary behaviors most often targeted for weight loss are caloric intake and physical activity. These behaviors might have independent, as well as overlapping/synergistic effects on neurocognitive health. To date obesity is often described independently from behavioral interventions in regards to neurocognitive outcomes, yet there is conceptual and mechanistic overlap between these constructs. This review summarizes evidence linking obesity and modifiable behaviors, such as physical activity and diet, with brain morphology (e.g., gray and white matter volume and integrity), brain function (e.g., functional activation and connectivity), and cognitive function across the adult lifespan. In particular, we review evidence bearing on the following question:
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Stillman et al. (2017) conducted a review in Obesity and Neurocognitive Aging. Physical activity and caloric restriction was evaluated. Obesity is associated with reduced brain structure and function, but behavioral interventions such as physical activity and caloric restriction may mitigate these negative neurocognitive consequences.
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