Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., M.S.

A new study conducted at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center has formed a theory that unexplained weight loss in older people might be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease.

The study appears to show that weight loss may be noted several years before the memory lapses.

Dr. David Bennett, the co-author of the study, stated that the disease may attack the brain regions involved in regulating food intake and metabolism, as well as memory.

Basal Metabolic Index and Alzheimer's

Those whose BMI dropped a point each year faced a 35 percent increased risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's later on, compared with those whose BMI remained stable.

Reference
Buchman AS, Wilson RS, Bienias JL, Shah RC, Evans DA, Bennett DA. Change in body mass index and risk of incident Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2005 Sep 27;65(6):892-7.

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