title: Adiposity parameters and cognitive function in the elderly: application of "Jolly Fat" hypothesis to cognition.
abstract: Obesity has a strong association with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, which have also been linked with dementia. While recent studies have reported an association between mid-life obesity and dementia, the role that later-life obesity may have is less clear. A total of 721 community-dwelling elderly (60-85 years old) were selected. Obesity parameters, like body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), and percent body fat (PBF), as well as cognitive functions were measured over a period of approximately 2 years, and then the relationships between these variables were assessed. The change in cognitive function in the elderly was associated with the baseline assessment of BMI (linearly, beta=0.092), WC (quadratic, beta=1.333), and PBF (linearly, beta=0.097). Using multiple regression analyses, the differences exist in the change of cognitive function over time according to the sex. For men, increased obesity over time when obese in the baseline assessment (BMI, WHR, WC) were associated with a positive change in cognitive function. For women, a decreased obesity over time when obese in the baseline assessment (WHR) and an increased obesity over time when they had a normal adiposity in the baseline assessment (WC) were both associated with cognitive decline. The relationship between obesity and cognitive decline in the elderly is complex and some differences exist between the sexes. The application of the "Jolly Fat" hypothesis to cognitive function can only be applied to elderly men and not to elderly women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Medical College, 516 Gojan-1-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do 425-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Changsu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute of Health, 194 Tongil-lo, Eunpyung-gu, Seoul 122-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sangmee Ahn
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical College, 516 Gojan-1-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do 425-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Korea University Medical College, 516 Gojan-1-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do 425-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung Gwon
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical College, 516 Gojan-1-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do 425-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nan Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, 911-1 Mok-1-dong, Yangchun-gu, Seoul 158-709, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Inho
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Korea University Medical College, 516 Gojan-1-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do 425-707, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: parkmuno@yahoo.co.kr.
authors.forename: Moon Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Korea University Medical College, 516 Gojan-1-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do 425-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kun Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss