High visceral fat increases the risk of Alzheimer's

SGGP 11/22/2023 05:57

Fat surrounding internal organs is linked to changes in the brain 15 years before symptoms of Alzheimer's disease appear, according to a new study.

Researchers scanned the brains of 54 people (aged 40-60) to compare brain MRI volume, the uptake of Alzheimer's-related proteins such as Tau (in cerebrospinal fluid) and amyloid with visceral fat levels, body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance...

Accordingly, the ratio of visceral fat to subcutaneous fat was associated with higher amyloid uptake in the frontal cortex, an area affected early in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers also found that higher visceral fat was associated with increased brain inflammation - one of the key mechanisms contributing to Alzheimer's disease.

Brain scans showed increased neuroinflammation with higher levels of visceral fat. Photo: CNN

These findings have implications for earlier diagnosis and intervention of future risk of encephalitis or dementia.