Introduction

To examine the independent association of body mass index (BMI) in early adulthood with dementia incidence among men and women.

Methods

We studied 5104 older adults from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. We imputed early adulthood and midlife BMI using a pooled parent cohort with complete adult lifespan coverage and previously established methods. Dementia was ascertained using criteria such as neuropsychological test battery, medical records, and dementia-related drug use. Pooled logistic regression (PLR) models were used.

Results

Compared to women with normal BMI in early adulthood, the odds of dementia were higher among both overweight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31 to 2.54) and obese (OR = 2.45; 95% CI = 1.47 to 4.06) women, independent of mid- and late-life BMI. Similar relationship was observed in men.

Conclusions

With the growing obesity epidemic among US adults, efforts aimed at reducing dementia may need to begin obesity prevention and treatment early in the life course.

Aim: To examine benefits of corticosteroids for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) by age and disease progression. Methods: Data from daily steroid users (placebo-treated) were pooled from four phase 2b/3 trials in DMD. Outcomes assessed overall and among subgroups included changes from baseline to 48 weeks in six-minute walk distance (6MWD), timed function tests and North Star Ambulatory Assessment total score. Results: Among 231 patients receiving deflazacort (n = 127) or prednisone (n = 104), observed differences in 6MWD favoring deflazacort over prednisone were significant for patients with relatively older age (≥8-years-old), greater disease progression (baseline timed stand from supine ≥5 s), or longer corticosteroid use (>3 years). Conclusion: Daily deflazacort had greater benefits than daily prednisone particularly among older/more progressed patients.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the long-term efficacy of steroids in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) after loss of ambulation is limited. OBJECTIVE: Characterize and compare disease progression by steroid treatment (prednisone, deflazacort, or no steroids) among non-ambulatory boys with DMD. METHODS: Disease progression was measured by functional status (Performance of Upper Limb Module for DMD 1.2 [PUL] and Egen Klassifikation Scale Version 2 [EK] scale) and by cardiac and pulmonary function (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], forced vital capacity [FVC] % -predicted, cough peak flow [CPF]). Longitudinal changes in outcomes, progression to key disease milestones, and dosing and body composition metrics were analyzed descriptively and in multivariate models. RESULTS: This longitudinal cohort study included 86 non-ambulatory patients with DMD (mean age 13.4 years; n = 40 [deflazacort], n = 29 [prednisone], n = 17 [no steroids]). Deflazacort use resulted in slower average declines in FVC % -predicted vs. no steroids (+3.73 percentage points/year, p < 0.05). Both steroids were associated with significantly slower average declines in LVEF, improvement in CPF, and slower declines in total PUL score and EK total score vs. no steroids; deflazacort was associated with slower declines in total PUL score vs. prednisone (all p < 0.05). Both steroids also preserved functional abilities considered especially important to quality of life, including the abilities to perform hand-to-mouth function and to turn in bed at night unaided (all p < 0.05 vs. no steroids). CONCLUSIONS: Steroid use after loss of ambulation in DMD was associated with delayed progression of important pulmonary, cardiac, and upper extremity functional deficits, suggesting some benefits of deflazacort over prednisone.