Genetic Study Links Obesity and High Blood Pressure to Direct Causation in Dementia

New genetic research reveals obesity and high blood pressure may directly cause dementia, offering a path to early prevention. A study using Mendelian randomization found that elevated body mass index (BMI) and hypertension are not merely correlated with dementia but act as direct causal factors.

The methodology leverages genetic variants as proxies for BMI and blood pressure, minimizing confounding variables to establish causality.

Researchers analyzed data from Denmark and the U.K., identifying vascular damage in the brain as a key mechanism linking obesity to cognitive decline. Ruth Frikke Schmidt, M.D., Ph.D., stated, 'In this study, we found high BMI and high blood pressure are direct causes of dementia.'

The study emphasizes that hypertension mediates much of the dementia risk associated with obesity, suggesting vascular pathways are central to the relationship.

The findings highlight the potential for pre-symptomatic interventions. Weight-loss strategies implemented before cognitive symptoms emerge could mitigate vascular-related dementia risk.

The research was funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, the Capital Region of Denmark, and other institutions, and published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf662).