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New research links higher BMI to lower mortality in dementia
A study published in the *Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease* found that people diagnosed with dementia who were overweight or obese had a lower risk of mortality. Virginia Chang, MD, and colleagues at NYU School of Global Public Health, analyzed data showing this observational link, suggesting it could provide important prognostic information.
A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that people diagnosed with dementia who were overweight or obese had a lower risk of mortality. Virginia Chang, MD, and colleagues at NYU School of Global Public Health, analyzed data showing this observational link, suggesting it could provide important prognostic information.
The architecture take
This finding — that carrying more weight might actually extend life for someone with dementia — flips a lot of our usual health messaging on its head. It's not a green light to gain weight, obviously, and Chang's team is clear this is observational data, not a clinical recommendation. But it's another piece of evidence for the 'obesity paradox,' where for certain conditions or age groups, a higher BMI correlates with better outcomes. I'm always thinking about the energy cost of living and, for brains under stress, maybe there's a metabolic buffer at play here. It makes me wonder about the specific nutritional needs or metabolic pathways at work in cognitive decline. It's a reminder that blanket health advice doesn't always apply when the body is in a different state.