When belly fat affects memory and cognitive abilities
Belly fat is also bad for brain health. Several studies have shown link between abdominal fat and memory and cognitive decline with age.
A new American study proves this point, but this time it points out THAT the danger of visceral fat for the brain, even in middle age.
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey found that among middle-aged men at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, more pancreatic fat affected cognition. They also showed smaller brain volumes.
This work was published on February 27 in the journal Obesity, Let’s pretend that amount and location of abdominal fat may affect a person’s brain health and cognitive abilities if they are at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
This is the first study to examine potential role of pancreatic fat According to researchers, in the brain and cognition.
Excess pancreatic fat: effects on brain gray matter
Visceral fat can be determined by measuring your waist circumference using a tape measure. According to Inserm, abdominal obesity is considered when the waist circumference exceeds 100 cm in men and 88 cm in women (outside of pregnancy).
For the purposes of the study, Dr. Schneider Bury’s team recruited 204 healthy middle-aged adults with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease. Study participants were agedabout 60 years old and 60% of the group were women.
Participants underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the amount of visceral and subcutaneous fat. Their cognitive abilities were assessed, as well as their brain volumes.
After analysis, it was found that more abdominal fat in the participants was associated with less overall gray matter volume in the brain.
Visceral fat and brain decline: Different effects by gender?
“Our results indicate a stronger correlation than that between BMI and cognitive ability, suggesting that belly fatrather than BMI, is a risk factor for cognitive decline and higher risk of dementia,” said study author Sapir Golan Shechtman.
Another interesting fact: compared to women, Men Middle-aged people at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease who suffer from excess pancreatic fat were more affected by this change in cognitive function and shrinkage of brain volume.
Researchers were surprised by these differences observed between the sexes and tried to explain them. “Our results provide strong evidence that research on The role of fats in brain aging should be carried out in a gender-sensitive manner,” concluded Dr. Schneider Bury.
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