Weight Loss Surgery Improves Memory and Cognition

Bill (William) Yates
Brain Posts

7th January 2014

I have reviewed some research evidence documenting the adverse effect of obesity on cognition.

Dementia rates do appear increased in obese populations but the mechanism and issue of causality remain unclear.

If there is a direct effect of obesity on brain function, one might expect weight loss to improve cognition.

There have been a series of papers examining changes in cognition following bariatric weight loss surgery using the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery study.

At baseline, about one fourth of the sample showed impaired performance on at least one neuropsychological domain.

After completion of the bariatric surgery, subjects were retested at 12 weeks, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years after surgery. The key points from these time points:

• Twelve weeks: Subjects showed some improvement in memory performance and subjects with higher cognitive showed superior adherence to postoperative guidelines. Subjects with better cognitive function at 12 weeks showed lower BMI at 2 year follow up.
• Two years: Evidence of continued improvement in cognition with attention improved throughout 2 years
• Three years: Improvement in executive function continues through year three.  Improvements in attention wane some during third year after surgery. Memory improvements at 12 weeks persist.

These series of studies add evidence to a link between obesity and cognition. The bariatric surgery sample study suggests this effect may be reversible and improved cognition appears to increase and persist through three years.

I wonder about the effects of severe obesity on cognition and learning on children and adolescents who are passing through key brain developmental periods.

Bariatric surgery is certainly not for everyone and is a costly and potentially dangerous treatment alternative.

However, aggressive prevention and aggressive treatment of obesity is supported by a growing understanding of the adverse effects of obesity on cognitive function.

Photo of a meerkat from the Disney Animal Kingdom is from the author's files.

Follow the author on Twitter @WRY999.

Gunstad J, Strain G, Devlin MJ, Wing R, Cohen RA, Paul RH, Crosby RD, & Mitchell JE (2011). Improved memory function 12 weeks after bariatric surgery. Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, 7 (4), 465-72 PMID: 21145295

Alosco ML, Galioto R, Spitznagel MB, Strain G, Devlin M, Cohen R, Crosby RD, Mitchell JE, & Gunstad J (2013). Cognitive function after bariatric surgery: evidence for improvement 3 years after surgery. American journal of surgery PMID: 24119892

See the original article:

Weight Loss Surgery Improves Memory and Cognition

in

Brain Posts