weight does not only provide a variety of health benefits, but also can help sharpen your memory. This is a new research findings from Kent State University recently published in the journal Surgery for Obesity Disease and Related Parties.
John Gunstad, assistant professor of psychology and lead author of the study, reported that the results showed that weight loss can improve concentration and overall cognitive abilities. He pointed out, "We've known for a long time that obesity is a risk factor for things like Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and more recent work really shows that obesity is a link to memory problems and concentration problems before it even begins." Gunstad later explained that his research team set out to answer the question, "If being overweight is causing this problem, can lose weight help reverse them?"
For their study, researchers analyzed memory and attention of a group of 150 people were obese had an average weight of 300 pounds. At the beginning of the study, each group member is given a mental skills test for the assessment of basic skills of recall and attention. After the assessment, a number of subjects undergoing gastric bypass surgery to lose weight, while others do not. After a period of 12 weeks, once again the mental skills test conducted on each participant.
Before surgery weight, 23.9 percent of all participants exhibited learning disorders, and 22.9 percent have poor recognition memory. However, twelve weeks after the surgical procedure and a decrease in average body weight about 50 pounds, cognitive tests showed that, on average, performance for them to undergo the procedure within or above the average range. Among those who did not vote for gastric bypass surgery, no improvement in sight. In fact, the findings revealed that non-surgical group had expereinced a gradual decline in memory over a period of 12 weeks.
Regarding the inclusion of patients who underwent gastric bypass procedure in this study, Gunstad noted, "The main motivation for seeing surgical patients is that we know they are losing a lot of weight in a short time, so it is a good group to learn." Away He explains, " We are optimistic about that we will see the positive impact of weight loss, but still great to see it. "
Gunstad acknowledged that the study raises more questions about the relationship between obesity and brain damage that needs to be investigated. He stated, "If we are able to identify what is causing this memory problem in the first place and then change after surgery to make the memory better, it's the key. Once we can find that, that might be the answer to better understand how obesity is related to , stroke, Alzheimer's disease or even just the memory loss that occurs in older adults. "
For subsequent analysis, the researchers plan to study people who lose weight by eating healthy and getting more active. Gunstad is optimistic that losing weight through traditional means diet and exercise will produce the same positive effect on the brain. He said, "If we can improve the condition with surgery, then we can see if we can produce the same change to the behavior of weight loss as well."
John Gunstad, assistant professor of psychology and lead author of the study, reported that the results showed that weight loss can improve concentration and overall cognitive abilities. He pointed out, "We've known for a long time that obesity is a risk factor for things like Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and more recent work really shows that obesity is a link to memory problems and concentration problems before it even begins." Gunstad later explained that his research team set out to answer the question, "If being overweight is causing this problem, can lose weight help reverse them?"
For their study, researchers analyzed memory and attention of a group of 150 people were obese had an average weight of 300 pounds. At the beginning of the study, each group member is given a mental skills test for the assessment of basic skills of recall and attention. After the assessment, a number of subjects undergoing gastric bypass surgery to lose weight, while others do not. After a period of 12 weeks, once again the mental skills test conducted on each participant.
Before surgery weight, 23.9 percent of all participants exhibited learning disorders, and 22.9 percent have poor recognition memory. However, twelve weeks after the surgical procedure and a decrease in average body weight about 50 pounds, cognitive tests showed that, on average, performance for them to undergo the procedure within or above the average range. Among those who did not vote for gastric bypass surgery, no improvement in sight. In fact, the findings revealed that non-surgical group had expereinced a gradual decline in memory over a period of 12 weeks.
Regarding the inclusion of patients who underwent gastric bypass procedure in this study, Gunstad noted, "The main motivation for seeing surgical patients is that we know they are losing a lot of weight in a short time, so it is a good group to learn." Away He explains, " We are optimistic about that we will see the positive impact of weight loss, but still great to see it. "
Gunstad acknowledged that the study raises more questions about the relationship between obesity and brain damage that needs to be investigated. He stated, "If we are able to identify what is causing this memory problem in the first place and then change after surgery to make the memory better, it's the key. Once we can find that, that might be the answer to better understand how obesity is related to , stroke, Alzheimer's disease or even just the memory loss that occurs in older adults. "
For subsequent analysis, the researchers plan to study people who lose weight by eating healthy and getting more active. Gunstad is optimistic that losing weight through traditional means diet and exercise will produce the same positive effect on the brain. He said, "If we can improve the condition with surgery, then we can see if we can produce the same change to the behavior of weight loss as well."