Can bariatric surgery reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease?

Recent studies demonstrate that obesity is independently associated with poor neurocognitive outcomes, including cognitive impairment, increased risk for dementia, and regional alterations in brain structure. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity and initial findings suggest that it may result in cognitive improvements. The current paper reviews and integrates recent research in this area, with a focus on potential mediators and moderators of neuropsychological outcome in bariatric surgery patients, including anesthetic and nutritional complications, and proposes novel avenues for continued study in this area.

► Obesity is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and accelerated cognitive decline.
► Weight loss improves cognitive function in obese persons.
► Future work should examine whether weight loss can reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease.