Study links belly fat to early signs of Alzheimer's
Image credit: ashtonmullins via Unsplash
A recent study published in the journal Aging and Disease has uncovered a concerning link between abdominal fat and the early indicators of Alzheimer's disease, observable up to 20 years before symptoms typically manifest. Findings suggest that middle-aged adults with more abdominal fat have higher levels of amyloid proteins in their brain, an early indicator of Alzheimer’s. These findings highlight the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise, which could help reduce abdominal fat and decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease in the future.
Source
Dolatshahi, M., Commean, P. K., Rahmani, F., Liu, J., Lloyd, L., Nguyen, C., Hantler, N., Ly, M., Yu, G., Ippolito, J. E., Sirlin, C., Morris, J. C., Benzinger, T. L. S., & Raji, C. A. (2024). Alzheimer Disease Pathology and Neurodegeneration in Midlife Obesity: A Pilot Study. Aging and disease, 15(4), 1843–1854. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2023.0707
Additional Reading
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/02/health/belly-fat-brain-atrophy-alzheimers-wellness/index.html
https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20241203/midlife-belly-fat-tied-early-signs-dementia
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/02/belly-fat-alzheimer-20-years-before-symptoms-show/