The Hidden Connection Between Visceral Fat and Alzheimer’s Disease: From what midlife health can tell us.
A groundbreaking study from Washington University School of Medicine found that visceral fat, a certain type of body fat, is strongly linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. This finding helps to explain how midlife health is implicated in determining future brain health.
Obesity and Alzheimer’s: A Complex Relationship
Obesity at 40 to 60 years of age has long been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, but how it increases the risk has not been clear. Researchers — led by Mahsa Dolatshahi, a postdoctoral research associate at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology — also wanted to dig deeper, so they focused on the role of fat distribution and metabolic variables in the brain’s levels of amyloid, a key marker of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Study: Vegans have the lowest visceral fat regardless of body mass, and in other studies, those who have lost the most weight are the ones most likely to show improvements in Brain Health as well.
About 80 cognitively healthy middle-aged people, with an average age of 49, participated in the research presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting. Of the group, 58 percent were obese and had a BMI over 30, and 63 percent were women. Participants’ health profiles were assessed using advanced imaging technologies such as MRI for fat distribution and PET scans, which measure amyloid buildup.
The findings revealed:
Higher Amyloid Levels in Obese Individuals: Those with obesity had significantly more amyloid deposits in the brain compared to those without obesity. Visceral Fat’s Key Role: We found that visceral fat—a metabolically active type of fat that clusters in the abdominal cavity—was a leading driver of amyloid accumulation. This accounted for about 77% of the effect of obesity on brain amyloid levels.
- Other Contributing Factors: BMI, subcutaneous fat, and insulin resistance correlated less with amyloid levels, while fat in the thigh and the liver did not.
Why Visceral Fat Matters
Not only is it a simple average storage of calories, but visceral fat is hormonally active and can actually affect our physiology through biochemical signaling. It can worsen metabolic and lipid-related conditions and contribute to cascades of effects that may lead to Alzheimer’s pathology.
Early Detection and Prevention: A Crucial Window
‘We could find this crucial result because we examined Alzheimer’s pathology as early as midlife, in the 40s and 50s, at the very start of the disease’, said Dolatshahi. “Currently, potential weight loss and reducing visceral fat are more effective to forestall or delay the onset of the disease.”
When managing the risk for Alzheimer’s, it’s essential to target metabolic and lipid imbalances associated with obesity, said Study coauthor Cyrus Raji, MD, PhD.
Visceral Fat and the Control of Cerebral Blood Flow
According to a linked study, the same research team discovered that more excellent visceral fat lowers cerebral blood flow, partially accounting for heightened amyloid buildup in people bearing this type of fat. This finding reinforces the importance of targeting visceral fat for health and even for brain health.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Brain?
The study emphasizes the need for proactive measures in midlife, such as:
- Regular Exercise: Try cardio and strength training to help eliminate visceral fat.
- Healthy Diet: Eat nutritious foods, whole foods, cut back on sugar, and choose foods rich in nutrients.
- Monitor Metabolic Health: Track your BMI, insulin sensitivity, and glucose levels.
- Stay Informed: Early detection can be helped by regular health checkups and brain imaging for those at risk.
Conclusion: A new view of stopping Alzheimer’s
This research underscores the importance of midlife health in avoiding Alzheimer’s disease. Since visceral fat and associated metabolic factors can be addressed, people have a window of opportunity to prevent and promote long-term brain health.
Taking proactive steps today can set you on a path toward a healthier tomorrow and show that even small changes in midlife can make a big difference in years to come.
While this blog post provides information on the link between visceral fat and Alzheimer’s, it also helps readers gain insights into how to prevent it.
