Eurasian Journal of Family Medicine, vol.2020, no.9, pp.1-8, 2020 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Aim: We aimed to evaluate effect of obesity on cognitive functions in 65 years and older patients.
Methods: This study was conducted in the Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Family Medicine
outpatient clinic between November 2018 and January 2019. 65 years and older 83 voluntary patients
were included in our study. All participants evaluated by a survey for their socio-demographic
characteristics, Standardized Mini Mental Examination Test and Rey Auditory and Verbal Learning
Test. Statistical comparison was made between patients’ body mass indexes and their test scores.
Results: Mini Mental Test total score was statistically higher in men. Besides that, working
patients had higher Mini Mental Test total score compared to retired patients and housewives. As
participants’ waist circumference and body mass index increase, their Mini Mental Test language
scores were decreasing.
Conclusions: We found that as body mass index increases, Mini Mental Test language scores were
significantly decreasing. In literature there are studies that suggesting obesity is related to decline in
cognitive functions, but there are also studies that suggesting obesity has protective effect for cognitive
decline. More comprehensive prospective studies are required for clearer results.
Keywords: geriatrics, obesity, cognitive dysfunction