People struggling with their weight often face frustration, failure and constant reminders they run the risk of heart disease, diabetes and a litany of other health problems.

But they may be doing something right when it comes to fighting dementia.

A new study shows that middle-aged, overweight people have a greatly increased chance of avoiding dementia later in life, a conclusion that has spurred scientists to hunt for clues as to how their approach might somehow help the rest of us avoid the degenerative disease.

"If we can understand why people with a high body mass index have a reduced risk of dementia, it's possible that further down the line, researchers might be able to use these insights to develop new treatments," said Stuart Pocock, professor of Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Medicine.

Researchers believe overweight eaters are ingesting extra nutrients along with all those extra calories they eat, so scientists are now looking at the possibility that vitamin D and E may play a major role in helping prevent dementia.

The study, published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Journal, runs counter to previous, smaller studies, and could be a useful tool in addressing rising rates of dementia.

"But if you collect them all together," Nawab Qizilbash of Oxon Epidemiology, who led the study, said. "Our study overwhelms them in terms of size and precision."

However, Dr. Qizilbash cautions, "You can't walk away and think it's OK to be overweight or obese. Even if there is a protective effect, you may not live long enough to get the benefits."

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