There may be a link between childhood obesity and brain health as an adult, a study has found. Photo: ShutterstockA recent study led by a team at the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry has shown that an unhealthy childhood may impact the brain later in life.
A child’s body mass index (BMI) – a figure calculated from their weight and height – has been linked to differences in brain development by the age of 20. Blood pressure and levels of physical activity have also been linked to brain health, particularly in areas related to dementia.
It has long been known that a person’s health in midlife can be a potential predictor for dementia in their later years. However, researchers have not previously tracked whether there could be an impact beginning in childhood.
This study tracked participants’ health data over a long period and analysed various health indicators.