Obesity and Vascular Risk Factors at Midlife and the Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer Disease

Vascular risk factors play a role in the development of dementia, including Alzheimer disease (AD). However, little is known about the effect of body mass index and clustering of vascular risk factors on the development of dementia.

To investigate the relation between midlife body mass index and clustering of vascular risk factors and subsequent dementia and AD. DESIGN AND SETTING: Participants of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) study were derived from random, population-based samples previously studied in a survey carried out in 1972, 1977, 1982, or 1987. After an average follow-up of 21 years, 1449 individuals (73%) aged 65 to 79 years participated in the reexamination in 1998. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dementia and AD.