The Association of Obesity and Overweight with Executive Functions in Community-Dwelling Older Women

Marcelo de Maio Nascimento (), Matthias Kliegel, Paloma Sthefane Teles Silva, Pâmala Morais Bagano Rios, Lara dos Santos Nascimento, Carolina Nascimento Silva and Andreas Ihle
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Marcelo de Maio Nascimento: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
Matthias Kliegel: Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Paloma Sthefane Teles Silva: Multiprofessional Residence, Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Brazil
Pâmala Morais Bagano Rios: Department of Psychology, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
Lara dos Santos Nascimento: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
Carolina Nascimento Silva: Department of Psychology, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
Andreas Ihle: Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: Among the risk factors reported for cognitive decline, the literature highlights changes in body composition. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between obesity/overweight and executive functions in cognitively normal older adult women. This cross-sectional study included 224 individuals (60–80 years), stratified into normal weight (n = 45), overweight (n = 98), and obesity (n = 81). As outcomes, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and Trail Making Test Parts A and B were assessed. We found positive correlations of BMI and WC with completion times of TMT-A and TMT-B, and a negative correlation of BMI and WC with education. ANCOVA showed an association between higher BMI and slower completion time of TMT-A, TMT-B, and ΔTMT (B-A). Impairment of executive functions of cognitively normal older women may be positively associated with obesity and negatively associated with years of education. The findings may contribute to designing strategies that make it possible to prevent cognitive decline in women during aging.

Keywords: aging; vulnerability; body mass index; cognitive functions; obesity; overweight (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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