Memory and obesity?

[ouroborous 519]

So, I've read some studies showing that obesity can lead to poor memory. I was wondering if anyone has experienced improvements in mental function since losing all the weight. I have an off-the-charts IQ, but even so I've felt for a while now that my brain feels "fuzzy." Specifically, my recall is poor and I often fumble to remember names and facts and information.

Anyone felt like their mind is "sharper" after losing weight?

[Tiffykins 673]

My memory is actually worse post-op. Of course, I don't think it has anything to do with my weight loss. I believe it is directly related to my horrible recovery post-leak repair and the 5 days I spent on life support.

I have to have to reminders set on my phone for every bill, every appointment, every outing, I especially had to set reminders early out to eat and drink because I honestly just forgot to consume anything.

[pnw218 14]

I initially accredited my memory issues and brain freezes during conversations to the heavy meds I took in the fall of 2008 for back problems. My new GP believes it is instead due to sleep apnea, which is common with overweight people. I am hoping she is right and when the sleep apnea gets better, my brain will also.

[Swiftflow 6]

Yeah the poor quality of sleep does sound like it could be the issue here. When I did workout and go through my spurts of fitness, my wife reported that I stoped snoring and slept more peacefully--so I am looking forward to seeing if I get my "Edge" back. I used to be able to skim through a technical document and then remember facts--now I have to focus and re-read. I had chalked it up to turning 40, but you may be on to something here!

[mb20mom 9]

Actually I was researching the hormone ghrelin yesterday, and learned that our memory retention is greater during the release of ghrelin, and since ours is reduced after surgery, it's not uncommon for wls patients to experience a decrease in memory efficiency. Remember the old theory that students learn better on an empty stomach? That's because ghrelin is released when the stomach is empty. Here's a quote from the article I read:

"The biochemical effects of ghrelin induce morphological changes of the hippocampus and in turn have long lasting behavioral effects such as memory retention. The increase in synaptic plasticity within the hippocampus, guarantees memory efficiency and thus the body uses ghrelin to enhance the important memory process."

[ouroborous 519]

So, the consensus is that my memory may well get WORSE after surgery?

Great...

[Swiftflow 6]

Don't worry, you will forget this post soon :thumbup1:

I tend to believe the resolution of the sleep apnea will improve your mental sharpness far more than hunger hormone could affect it. I'm sure there are plenty of well fed scholars that could agree.

Also do a search on medical studies on how exercise effects memory. If I can get down to a "running weight" again I may enjoy some of those benefits as well!

Edited April 19, 2010 by Swiftflow

[ouroborous 519]

So actually, the science points to obesity causing memory loss:

Obesity is associated with memory deficits in youn... [Eat Weight Disord. 2006] - PubMed result

Obesity Tied to Memory Loss | Psych Central News

[KZol 0]

Huh. My memory is awful, but I have fibromyalgia and have been blaming it on the dreaded "fibro-fog". Interestingly enough, fibro patients also tend to be overweight due to the meds we take, pain with exercise, and the disease itself. Maybe it's just "fat fog".

[ouroborous 519]

I think pnw may be on to something, too -- even if you're not diagnosed w/sleep apnea, us heavy people always have poor sleep. Sleep quality has many, many documented connections to memory and overall cognitive function.