Weight loss and Alzheimer's disease - two studies

[Guest guest]

Colleagues, the following is FYI and does not necessarily reflect my own

opinion. I have no further knowledge of the topic. If you do not wish to

receive these posts, set your email filter to filter out any messages

coming from @nutritionucanlivewith.com and the program will remove

anything coming from me.

---------------------------------------------------------

Abstract 1 of 2 Neurology 2001;56:655-659

© 2001 American Academy of Neurology

APOE-{varepsilon}4 is associated with weight loss in women with AD

A population-based study

M. Vanhanen, PhD;, M. Kivipelto, MD;, K. Koivisto, MD, PhD;, J.

Kuusisto, MD, PhD;, L. Mykkänen, MD, PhD;, E.-L. Helkala, PhD;, T.

Hänninen, PhD;, K. Kervinen, MD, PhD;, Y.A. Kesäniemi, MD, PhD;, M.P.

Laakso, MD, PhD;, H. Soininen, MD, PhD; and M. Laakso, MD, PhD

From the Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience of the Kuopio

University Hospital (Drs. Vanhanen, Koivisto, Hänninen, and Soininen)

and the University of Kuopio (Drs. Kivipelto, M.P. Laakso, and

Soininen); the Department of Medicine of the Kuopio University Hospital

(Drs. Kuusisto and M. Laakso) and the University of Kuopio (Drs.

Mykkänen and M. Laakso); the Department of Community Health and General

Practice of the University of Kuopio (Dr. Helkala); and the Department

of Internal Medicine (Drs. Kervinen and Kesäniemi) and Biocenter Oulu

(Dr. Kervinen) of the University of Oulu, Finland.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Matti Vanhanen,

Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, POB 1777, 70211

Kuopio, Finland; e-mail: matti.vanhanen@...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the APOE-{varepsilon}4 allele is

associated with weight loss in patients with AD or in nondemented

elderly subjects. Background: Weight loss has been considered a typical

feature of AD. APOE-{varepsilon}4 is a risk factor for AD and was

recently proposed to be associated with weight loss in elderly women. It

is not known whether APOE-{varepsilon}4 is associated with weight loss

in patients with AD or in the general population.

METHODS: Weight and BMI measurements at an average interval of 3.5 years

and APOE phenotype determination were performed in an elderly population

(n = 980), including 46 patients with AD and 911 control subjects at the

end of the follow-up.

RESULTS: On average, patients with AD with the {varepsilon}4 allele lost

1.9 ± 4.0 kg (BMI 0.8 ± 1.8 kg/m2) whereas {varepsilon}4 noncarriers

gained 1.2 ± 3.8 kg (BMI 0.4 ± 1.5 kg/m2) (both p < 0.05), after

controlling for diabetes and exercise. However, when men and women were

analyzed separately, weight loss was observed only in those women with

AD with the {varepsilon}4 allele. Clinically significant weight loss,

defined as loss of >=5% of body weight, occurred more frequently in both

patients with AD (30% versus 6%; p < 0.05) and control subjects (28%

versus 18%; p < 0.001) carrying the {varepsilon}4 allele.

CONCLUSIONS: The APOE-{varepsilon}4 allele may contribute to the

unexplained weight loss in AD, especially in women.

[Full Text of Vanhanen et al.] [Reprint (PDF) Version of Vanhanen et al.]

=================================

Abstract 2 of 2 NEUROLOGY 2005;65:892-897

© 2005 American Academy of Neurology

Change in body mass index and risk of incident Alzheimer disease

A. S. Buchman, MD, R. S. , PhD, J. L. Bienias, ScD, R. C. Shah,

MD, D. A. , MD and D. A. , MD

From the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center (Drs. Buchman, , Shah,

and ), Departments of Neurological Sciences (Drs. Buchman,

, and ), Behavioral Sciences (Dr. ), and Family

Practice (Dr. Shah), and Rush Institute for Healthy Aging and Department

of Internal Medicine (Drs. Bienias and ), Rush University Medical

Center, Chicago, IL.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Buchman, Rush

Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Armour

Academic Facility, Suite 1038, 600 S. ina St., Chicago, IL 60612;

e-mail: Aron_S_Buchman@...

Objective: To examine the association of change in body mass index (BMI)

with risk of Alzheimer disease (AD).

Methods: Nine hundred eighteen older Catholic clergy participating in

the Religious Orders Study without dementia at baseline were studied.

Outcome measures were the clinical diagnosis of AD and change in

cognitive function.

Results: During a mean follow-up of 5.5 years, 151 persons developed AD.

BMI averaged 27.4 at baseline and declined in about half the

participants. In a proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, and

education, each 1-unit less of BMI at baseline was associated with about

a 5% increase in the risk of AD (hazard ratio = 0.944; 95% CI = 0.908 to

0.981), and each 1-unit annual decline in BMI (about the 10th

percentile) was associated with about a 35% increase in the risk of AD

compared with a person experiencing no change in BMI (about the 50th

percentile) (hazard ratio = 0.730; 95% CI = 0.625 to 0.852). The results

were similar after controlling for chronic diseases and excluding

persons who developed AD during the first 4 years of observation. Random

effects models showed that the rate of cognitive decline increased by

about 8% for each 1-unit less of BMI at baseline and declined an

additional 40%/year in persons losing 1 unit of BMI/year compared with

those with no change in BMI.

Conclusion: Declining body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased

risk of incident Alzheimer disease (AD). Loss of BMI may reflect

pathologic processes that contribute to the subsequent development of AD.

Supported by the National Institute on Aging grants R01 AG15819 and P30

AG10161.

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received February 10, 2005. Accepted in final form May 31, 2005.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/