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Body Mass Index and Decline in Cognitive Function in Older Black and White Persons
Arvanitakis Z, Capuano AW, Bennett DA, Barnes LL.. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2018-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background While body mass index (BMI) is higher in black compared to white persons, little is known about BMI and change in cognition in cohorts with a large proportion of blacks. We examine relations of BMI with decline in global cognition and five cognitive domains, in older blacks and whites, and determine whether relations differ by race. Methods Participants were 2,134 persons without baseline dementia (33% black; 75% women; mean age =77.9 [range 53-100] and education = 14.7 years, Mini-Mental State Examination = 28.0), enrolled in one of two longitudinal, community-based cohort studies of aging (Minority Aging Research Study; Rush Memory and Aging Project). Summary scores of global cognition and five domains were based on 19 neuropsychological tests administered annually. Mixed-effects models, controlling for age, sex, education, and race, were used to examine the relation of baseline BMI to change in cognition. Results Baseline BMI = 28.4 units (30.3 in blacks [95% confidence interval (CI): 27.2-27.7]; 27.4 in whites [95% CI: 29.8-30.7]). During a mean annual follow-up of 6 years (SD = 4), lower baseline BMI was related to faster decline in global cognition (p = .002), and semantic memory (p .08). The relationship of BMI with change in cognition was not modified by race (all p > .09). Conclusions Late-life lower BMI relates to faster rates of decline in cognition, specifically semantic memory and episodic memory, in both blacks and whites. The effect of BMI on cognition appears to be similar in both racial groups.
Key findings
- Background While body mass index (BMI) is higher in black compared to white persons, little is known about BMI and change in cognition in cohorts with a large proportion of blacks.
- Results Baseline BMI = 28.4 units (30.3 in blacks [95% confidence interval (CI): 27.2-27.7]; 27.4 in whites [95% CI: 29.8-30.7]).
Why it matters
This cohort study found that lower baseline body mass index was related to faster decline in global cognition among older black and white persons. It identifies an association and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants2,134
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series A: journal h-index 274 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 2,134 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 92 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.2 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Lisa Laverne Barnes: h-index 95 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Rush University Medical Center: institution h-index 670 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 28961897) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Arvanitakis, Z., Capuano, A. W., Bennett, D. A., & Barnes, L. L. (2018). Body Mass Index and Decline in Cognitive Function in Older Black and White Persons. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx152
Vancouver
Arvanitakis Z, Capuano AW, Bennett DA, Barnes LL. Body Mass Index and Decline in Cognitive Function in Older Black and White Persons. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2018. doi:10.1093/gerona/glx152. PMID: 28961897.
BibTeX
@article{arvanitakis2018-28961897,
author = {Arvanitakis, Z. and Capuano, A. W. and Bennett, D. A. and Barnes, L. L.},
title = {{Body Mass Index and Decline in Cognitive Function in Older Black and White Persons}},
journal = {The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1093/gerona/glx152},
pmid = {28961897},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx152}
}
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