People in their 50s who are obese have a 31% increased risk of dementia later in life compared with those of the same age with normal weight, a new UK study suggests.

Scientists from University College London (UCL), who conducted the research, say the risk may be particularly high for women who have abdominal obesity.

They add the findings, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, suggest keeping BMI under control could play a “significant role” in reducing the risk of dementia.

“These findings provide new evidence that obesity may have important implications in terms of dementia risk,” said senior author Dr Dorina Cadar, from UCL’s institute of epidemiology and healthcare.