title: Family history of Alzheimer's disease limits improvement in cognitive function after bariatric surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bariatric surgery can reverse cognitive impairments associated with obesity. However, such benefits may be attenuated in individuals with a predisposing risk for cognitive impairment such as family history of Alzheimer's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 94 bariatric surgery participants completed a computerized cognitive test battery before and 12 weeks after surgery. Family history of Alzheimer's disease was obtained through self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the overall sample, cognitive function improved in memory and attention/executive function 12 weeks post-surgery. Repeated measures showed similar rates of improvements in attention/executive function between patients with and without a family history of Alzheimer's disease. In contrast, only individuals without a family history of Alzheimer's disease exhibited post-operative improvements in memory. A family history of Alzheimer's disease was associated with greater post-surgery rates of cognitive impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family history of Alzheimer's disease may limit post-surgery cognitive benefits. Future studies should examine whether weight loss can modify the course of cognitive decline in patients at-risk for Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alosco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spitznagel
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.affiliation: Eating Disorders Research Unit, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Obesity; bariatric surgery; cognitive function