Could our weight at 50 affect our memory at 70?

19 long-term studies, 589 thousand 649 people and follow-up of up to 42 years...

Studies have found that those with obesity between the ages of 35 and 65 have a 33 percent higher risk of dementia in later life than those of normal weight. Neurology Specialist Assoc. Prof. at Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital on the relationship between obesity and Alzheimer's. Dr. We talked with Hatice Ömercikoğlu Özden.

A comprehensive review published in Nature Reviews Neurology in September 2026 draws attention to obesity, especially in middle age. Studies; It reveals that obesity-related changes can be seen in brain regions critical for memory, as well as in areas associated with functions such as planning and decision-making.

Özden describes the findings in brain imaging as follows:

“In brain imaging, interactions related to this were seen mostly in areas related to memory and planning and decision-making.”

He uses the following statement regarding the role of obesity in brain aging:

“So yes, it is one of the important risk factors for making our brain age faster.”

A brain imaging study published in 2025 also reached remarkable results supporting this picture. The estimated age of the brain was higher in people with obesity compared to the normal weight group; The period when the difference was most evident was between the ages of 40 and 60.

Source: TRT Haber Sağlık RSS (Open Press / Translated Full Text)