Obesity may be linked to dementia risk, researchers report

A genetic-analysis study reports an association between higher body weight and greater risk of vascular dementia; experts in the article note limits such as diagnostic-code inequalities and say randomized trials would be needed to test whether treating obesity prevents dementia.

A recent study using genetic analysis reports a link between higher body weight and increased risk of vascular dementia. Researchers used genetic variants to probe whether obesity contributes to dementia risk, aiming to reduce confounding that affects observational studies. Experts quoted in the article cautioned that the method is not perfect and highlighted limitations including the use of medical diagnostic codes and unequal access to diagnosis across groups. Key findings and context: - The study applied genetic-variant analysis to examine the relationship between obesity and dementia risk. - It reported an association specifically with vascular dementia rather than claiming definitive causation. - Experts said observational research can be misleading and described the genetic approach as a substantive but imperfect step forward. - The article notes limits from reliance on diagnostic codes and cites research showing that some groups receive diagnostic codes later, which can affect results. Summary: The study adds a new piece of evidence linking higher body weight to vascular dementia risk but does not prove causation. Researchers and clinicians cited in the article say a randomized controlled trial with a diverse participant pool would be the definitive test; plans for such trials are undetermined at this time.