Obesity and risk of dementia: where's the link?

'There is now a growing weight of evidence that diet and lifestyle are very important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease as well as heart attacks and strokes.

This new research now reveals a link with obesity in later life and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

This new link makes good sense as other factors such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes, which are all associated with being overweight, are also well recognised risk factors for Alzheimer's.

As we get older, eating a healthy diet including fresh fruit and vegetables, getting our blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly, taking exercise and watching our weight may all turn out to be important ways of reducing our risk of developing dementia in later life.'

Richard Harvey
Director of research