Memory is often a problem as we get older. Sometimes we forget where we put something, or we can’t remember names — the variations are endless. We’ve come to accept this condition as “normal” in the older population, but a new study shows that, if you’re a woman, memory loss and cognitive function may be linked to your weight.

The study, which involved 8,745 cognitively normal, post-menopausal women ages 65 to 79, showed that for every one-point increase in a woman’s body mass index (BMI), a point was lost from her memory score.

The problem for pear-shaped women, who carry the extra pounds on their hips rather than their waist, was more pronounced. Researchers suspect this might be due to the type of fat around the hips having different hormonal effects than the fat that accumulates around the waist.

Further studies need to be done regarding the effects of different types of fat.

“We need to find out if one kind of fat is more detrimental than the other, and how it affects brain function,” she said. “The fat may contribute to the formation of plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease or a restricted blood flow to the brain.”

Regardless of the type of fat, or where it is on the body, the results of the study are clear.

“The message is obesity and a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) are not good for your cognition and your memory,” said lead author of the study, Diane Kerwin, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine and a physician at Northwestern Medicine. “While the women’s scores were still in the normal range, the added weight definitely had a detrimental effect.”

This is the first study to link obesity and body shape to brain and memory function, and it opens the door to weight loss as a treatment for cognitive function. Simply losing a few pounds could improve memory and the ability to think clearly — in addition to being good for one’s overall health.

SOURCE: Northwestern University. http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2010/07/obesity-reduces-memory.html and http://www.medicine.northwestern.edu/department/10/mar/new-faculty-focus-diana-r-kerwin-md

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