Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41758252›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2026

Association between cumulative average BMI and cognitive decline: a 24-year cohort study.

Qianhui Xu, Meng Hsuan Sung, Zhuo Chen, Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, Grace Bagwell Adams, M Mahmud Khan, Ye Shen, Xiao Song, Xia Song, Suhang Song

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Qianhui XuGraduate School of Art and Science, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA.
Meng Hsuan SungDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Zhuo ChenDepartment of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Janani Rajbhandari-ThapaDepartment of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Grace Bagwell AdamsDepartment of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
M Mahmud KhanDepartment of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Ye ShenDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Xiao SongDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Xia SongDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Fifth People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, 250000, Shandong, China.
Suhang SongDepartment of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. suhang.song@uga.edu.

Funding

Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE)UL1TR002378 · NCATS · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI Andres J Garcia, Elizabeth O. Ofili · 2017 to 2026
$92.1M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1TR002378
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHigh Body Mass Index (BMI) is linked to poor cognitive performance, yet limited studies have examined the long-term impact of cumulative average BMI (caBMI) on cognitive health. This study explores the association between caBMI and cognitive decline and identifies the critical time window during which caBMI has the strongest association with cognitive decline.

methodsData were obtained from the Health and Retirement Study (1996-2020). Global cognition was assessed using a standardized composite score of memory and executive function. Cumulative average BMI (caBMI) was computed as the mean of the area under the BMI curve over the follow-up period. Linear mixed models assessed the associations between caBMI and cognitive decline, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and health conditions.

resultsAmong 8252 cognitively healthy participants (mean age 59.0 [Standard Deviation (SD) = 5.6] years, 58.2% women, mean follow-up 17.5 (SD = 7.0) years), a 100-unit increase in caBMI was significantly associated with faster cognitive decline: global cognition (-0.0030 SD/year, 95% CI: -0.0036, -0.0024), executive function (-0.0028 SD/year, 95% CI: -0.0034, -0.0021), and memory (-0.0017 SD/year, 95% CI: -0.0023, -0.0011) (all p < 0.001). Year eight was observed as the time point at which caBMI showed the strongest association with declines in global cognition, memory, and executive function. Subgroup analyses revealed that caBMI was associated with greater cognitive decline in older adults (≥ 65 years), compared to the younger adults (50-65 years).

conclusionscaBMI was significantly associated with cognitive decline, with the strongest association observed 8 years later. These findings highlight the importance of long-term weight management and BMI monitoring in cognitive health assessments.

Indexed as

Body Mass IndexCognitive DysfunctionAgedCohort StudiesExecutive FunctionFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedAging populationCognitive declineCumulative average body mass index (caBMI)Health and Retirement Study (HRS)Longitudinal cohort studyNeuroepidemiology

Identifiers

PMID41758252
PMCPMC12948888

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.