Sign in Subscribe
Dementia

Basal Metabolic Rate Predicts Dementia in Older Adults

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study conducted by investigators in Japan has investigated the relationship between basal metabolic rate (BMR) and dementia risk in older adults. The research, involving 2550 participants aged 73.2 on average, found a significant association between low BMR and increased dementia risk. The study's findings suggest that BMR could be a potential early predictive biomarker for dementia, and the Harris-Benedict equation is particularly effective in predicting dementia risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed 2550 older adults (age 73.2 ± 6.0 years, 59.8% women) over a 5-year period to examine the relationship between BMR and dementia risk.
  • Low BMR ( lowest quartile, Q1) was associated with a higher risk of dementia compared to those in the highest BMR quartile (Q4), with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.49 (p).
  • The Harris-Benedict equation was found to be the most effective formula in predicting dementia risk, with a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve showing significant differences in performance among the formulas.
  • The research was funded by JSPSKAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research A, JSPSKAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up, and Research Funding for Longevity Sciences from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology.
  • The study suggests that BMR could be a potential early predictive biomarker for dementia, and further research is needed to explore its utility in clinical settings.

Statistics:

  • 2550 participants were involved in the study (age 73.2 ± 6.0 years, 59.8% women).
  • The study observed a 5-year period to examine the relationship between BMR and dementia risk.
  • The lowest BMR quartile (Q1) had a higher risk of dementia compared to those in the highest BMR quartile (Q4), with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.49 (p).
  • The Harris-Benedict equation was found to be the most effective formula in predicting dementia risk.

Sources:

  • Basal metabolic rate predicts dementia in community-dwelling older adults: a 5-year longitudinal study. European Geriatric Medicine, 2025.
  • Mental Health Weekly Digest, October 20, 2025; p 339.

* NewsRx. Findings on Dementia Reported by Researchers at National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (Basal metabolic rate predicts dementia in community-dwelling older adults: a 5-year longitudinal study).

Read more