For people with Alzheimer's, carrying a little extra weight may carry them further

It sounds backwards, but a long look at the records says it plainly: among 4,523 Americans in the Health and Retirement Study who developed dementia, those who were overweight at diagnosis lived longer than peers of 'normal' weight — a 16% lower risk of early death — and those classed as obese fared better still, up to 27% lower. The NYU and Columbia researchers are careful: nobody should gain weight on purpose, and excess weight brings its own problems. Their point is gentler — nutrition may matter more in dementia care than medicine assumed, and weight at diagnosis is a useful signal doctors can actually use.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being