A US study has found people with mild memory problems and early signs of Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI).
The findings suggest that early brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s could be linked to a change in metabolism caused by the disease. The study, published in the journal Neurology, backs up previous research showing that older people who are thinner or lose weight quickly are at higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the scientists stress that their findings should not be taken as evidence that lower weight causes the disease. Instead, they suggest that lower BMI in the early stages of Alzheimer’s may be caused by damage to the part of the brain that regulates energy metabolism and food intake.
