title: Improved memory function two years after bariatric surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is as an independent risk factor for poor neurocognitive outcomes, including Alzheimer's disease. Bariatric surgery has recently been shown to result in improved memory at 12-weeks postoperatively. However, the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on cognitive function remain unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six individuals (63 bariatric surgery patients, 23 obese controls) were recruited from a prospective study examining the neurocognitive effects of bariatric surgery. All participants completed self-report measurements and a computerized cognitive test battery prior to surgery and at 12-week and 24-month follow-up; obese controls completed measures at equivalent time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bariatric surgery patients exhibited high rates of pre-operative cognitive impairments in attention, executive function, memory, and language. Relative to obese controls, repeated measures ANOVA showed improvements in memory from baseline to 12-weeks and 24-months postoperatively (P < 0.05). Regression analyses controlling for baseline factors revealed that a lower BMI at 24-months demonstrated a trend toward significance for improved memory (β = -.30, P = 0.075).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that cognitive benefits of bariatric surgery may extend to 24-months postoperatively. Larger prospective studies with extended follow-up periods are needed to elucidate whether bariatric surgery decreases risk for cognitive decline and possibly the development of dementia.
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alosco
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spitznagel
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome