title: Cognitive function after bariatric surgery: evidence for improvement 3 years after surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bariatric surgery is associated with improved cognition, and it is possible that such improvements are found at extended follow-ups. We hypothesized that cognitive improvement would be maintained 3 years after bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty bariatric patients were recruited from the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery parent project. Participants completed a computerized cognitive test battery to assess cognitive function at 12 weeks, 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures revealed main effects for attention, executive function, and memory. Attention improved up to 24 months and then slightly declined although it still fell within the average range at 36 months. Improvements in executive function reached their peak at 36 months after surgery. Short-term improvements in memory were maintained at 36 months. No main effect emerged for language.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bariatric surgery may lead to lasting improvements in cognition. Prospective studies with extended follow-ups (eg, 10 years) should examine whether bariatric surgery can attenuate cognitive decline in severely obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, 238 Kent Hall Addition, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alosco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, 238 Kent Hall Addition, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galioto
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, 238 Kent Hall Addition, Kent, OH 44242, USA; Summa Health System, Akron, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spitznagel
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.affiliation: University of Florida Institute on Aging, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.affiliation: University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, 238 Kent Hall Addition, Kent, OH 44242, USA; Summa Health System, Akron, OH, USA. Electronic address: jgunstad@kent.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bariatric surgery; Cognitive function; Obesity; Weight loss