new research have established a link between a specific type of body fat and a brain protein that is the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
The fat type is especially common for middle-aged people — and it may indicate Alzheimer’s a full two decades earlier than symptoms of memory loss.
In a study presented in annual meeting Visceral fat – which forms around Vital organs like heart, liver and stomach , The likelihood of developing dementia increased within two decades.
“This important result was discovered because we examined Alzheimer’s disease pathology early in midlife – in the 40s and 50s – when disease pathology was in its early stages,” said lead study author Mahsa Dolatshahi, MD, MPH, Mallinckrodt. said the postdoctoral research associate at. Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
“And potential modifications such as weight loss and reducing visceral fat are more effective as a means of preventing or delaying the onset of the disease.”
One in every 5 women and 1 in 10 men will develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime.
Alzheimer’s is the most common type dementiaWhich is characterized by a decline in memory, thinking and learning. Nearly 7 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, but researchers say Millions of people likely have symptoms of dementia but have no formal diagnosis.
Dolatshahi and his team focused their study on the relationship between Alzheimer’s and modifiable factors such as obesity and body fat distribution.
The study involved 80 cognitively normal middle-aged subjects, meaning they had no existing symptoms of dementia. About 57.5% of these participants qualified as obese, and the average body mass index (BMI) of all participants was 32.31.
The CDC defines obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30. And 20% of Americans meet that criteria.
Participants were subjected to brain positron emission tomography (PET), body MRI, metabolic assessment (glucose and insulin measurements) and a lipid (cholesterol) panel. MRI scans were used to measure the amount of subcutaneous fat on the abdomen, which is found just beneath the skin, and visceral fat, which is deeper, less visually apparent and surrounds organs.
PET scans were used to measure tracers that bind to clumps of protein that clog the brain called amyloid plaques, a clear biomarker of Alzheimer’s.
The team found that higher visceral fat levels were related to increased amyloid, accounting for 77% of the effect of higher BMI on amyloid accumulation.
“Our study showed that higher visceral fat was associated with higher PET levels of amyloid and tau – two hallmark pathological proteins of Alzheimer’s disease,” Dolatshahi said.
“To our knowledge, our study is the only study to demonstrate these findings in midlife, where our participants are decades away from developing the early symptoms of dementia that result from Alzheimer’s disease.”
Dolatshahi and his team emphasized that lifestyle modifications that prevent or reduce visceral fat accumulation could theoretically help prevent or postpone the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
In previous research it was found Visceral fat can cause brain inflammationOne of the primary mechanisms contributing to Alzheimer’s disease.
Senior study author Cyrus A. Raji, M.D., Ph.D., said, “A major implication of our work is that managing Alzheimer’s risk in obesity will involve targeting the associated metabolic and lipid issues that often accompany high body fat. are produced.” Associate Professor of Radiology at MIR.
Raji, Dolatshahi and their colleagues will also present a study that shows a link between visceral fat, obesity and blood flow to the brain. In a subsequent study, the team found that people with higher visceral fat showed less blood flow throughout the brain.
“This work will have a significant public health impact given that nearly 3 out of 4 Americans are overweight or obese,” Raji said.
“Knowing that visceral obesity has negative effects on the brain opens the possibility that lifestyle changes or treatment with appropriate weight-loss medications could improve brain blood flow and potentially reduce the burden. and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Previous research has established that refined carbs And Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF) Belly fat is a common culprit and a contributor to cognitive decline. Experts suggest that a Mediterranean diet The best way to deal with this fat and potentially prevent dementia. Additional tips to avoid debilitating disease Include regular exercise, avoiding alcohol, and quality sleep.
