Obesity at 50 Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s Study Shows

Several studies have suggested a connection between being overweight in midlife and a higher risk of Alzheimer's. More midlife pounds meant an earlier onset of the disease among those who eventually developed memory issues. 

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) investigated and reported in 2015 that being overweight or obese at age 50 may influence not just whether a person goes on to develop Alzheimer's disease but when. A 2022 study said that in the United States, up to 18% of adults in their 40s and 50s meet the criteria for obesity or being severely overweight, placing them at high risk for dementia.

A recent study by United Kingdom researchers published in 2020 also showed that increased body weight or abdominal obesity is associated with increased dementia incidence.

The U.K. study sampled older adults in England. The research showed that 74% of the participants who developed dementia were overweight or obese at baseline, compared to 72% of those not diagnosed with dementia by the end of the study period. There was a higher incidence of dementia in women who had abdominal obesity.

More research will confirm, but researchers note this is another reason to watch your weight. 

Being Overweight Leads to Many Health Problems

Obesity has emerged as a leading public health concern in many western nations, including the United States. It has been well-established that people who are obese face increased risks of death from heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Now, multiple studies connect dementia and being overweight.

The NIH says that two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Even more alarming, 17% of women and 11% percent of men are severely obese. In the U.K., The Health Survey for England 2019 estimated that 28.0% of adults in England are obese, and an additional 36.2% are overweight but not obese.

Women are at a higher risk of dementia; adding extra pounds adds more risk as a woman ages. Maintaining an ideal weight has become even more critical for women of all ages. 

Know Your BMI

Recent NIH research found that a body mass index (BMI) between 20.0 and 24.9 is associated with the lowest risk of death in healthy, non-smoking adults. 

Current guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization define a normal BMI range as 18.5 to 24.9. 

Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9; obesity is a BMI over 30.0, and severe obesity is a BMI of 35 or higher. For a BMI calculator, click here. 

Maintaining a healthy BMI at midlife is likely to have long-lasting protective effects.

Dr. Madhav Thambisetty of NIH's National Institute on Aging,

Memory Loss Leading Cause of Long-Term Health Care

Memory loss from Alzheimer's and other demntias is one of the leading reasons people need long-term health care around the world. With an aging population, many more people will need supervision and long-term health care, putting a drain on public and private budgets.

In the U.S., Medicaid is the biggest funder of long-term health care services. However, the program requires the care recipient to have little or no income and assets to qualify for those benefits. 

As a result, private funds, informal and unpaid family caregivers, and Long-Term Care Insurance become the funding source. Family caregivers usually become the default care plan due to dwindling savings and lack of LTC Insurance. 

Current estimates reported by the CDC say that about 5.8 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The number includes 5.6 million aged 65 and older and approximately 200,000 under age 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer's.

The Alzheimer's Association says around 900,000 people live with dementia in the U.K. They expect that number to rise sharply in the coming years. In Canada, over 747,000 individuals live with Alzheimer's or other dementia, and an estimated 487,500 Australians have dementia. 

Being Prepared for Aging Key to Successful Retirement Planning

Barring a medical breakthrough, the risk of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia will continue to impact families and create substantial financial burdens on loved ones and taxpayers. 

In the U.S., taxpayers pay for long-term care if a person has little or no money or ends up spending down their own assets paying for care themselves. With the cost of care being high, the spend-down can happen quick.

Alzheimer's starts quietly ravaging the brain more than a decade before symptoms appear. With a cure way down the road, researchers are exploring ways to at least delay the disease, and lifestyle changes are among the possible options available.

The costs of long-term care services are going up yearly so the financial impact can be severe - Cost of Care Calculator - Choose Your State | LTC News.

Women Can't Ignore Aging

Alzheimer's is especially a big issue for women in general. The Alzheimer's Association says a 65-year-old American woman has a 1 in 6 chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. 

Women in their 60s are also twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's than breast cancer, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

The U.S. research added to previous research that linked midlife obesity to a risk of Alzheimer's, but it's the first to also find those brain changes, a clue important to examine further, said Heather Snyder of the Alzheimer's Association, who wasn't involved in the work.

The more recent study from the U.K reinforces the idea that we can affect dementia with lifestyle, but to what extent is still unknown. However, maintaining a healthy weight is good for overall health. The Alzheimer's Association has long recommended healthy weight.

What's good for your heart is good for your brain.

Heather Snyder of the Alzheimer's Association

Memory Loss Not Only Aging Concern

No matter how well we take care of our health and maintain a healthy lifestyle, the risk of memory loss is still significant. The older we get, the more likely we will face declining health, mobility problems, and memory loss.

Being prepared before these health changes take place will protect your family and finances. Since traditional health insurance and Medicare, including supplements, will pay little or nothing toward long-term care, many people consider adding an affordable Long-Term Care Insurance policy to their retirement plan. 

The guaranteed tax-free benefits will give you access to quality care options, including in-home care. You get to choose the care you want and avoid becoming dependent on family caregivers. Most people obtain coverage in their 50s when their health is still reasonably good, and premiums are lower.