Hidden fat “predicts” alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms appear

Date:

Researchers have identified that a specific type of body fat is linked to abnormal brain proteins characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, up to 20 years before the first symptoms appear. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

The research team, led by the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, focused on the relationship between modifiable lifestyle factors—such as obesity and body fat distribution—and Alzheimer’s pathology. The study included 80 cognitively healthy middle-aged participants (average age 49.4 years), of whom approximately 57.5% were obese. Researchers examined the association between body mass index (BMI), visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, liver fat, thigh and muscle fat, HDL (good cholesterol), insulin resistance, and the deposition of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain—hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings revealed that higher levels of visceral fat were associated with increased amyloid deposition, whereas other fat types showed no correlation with increased Alzheimer’s pathology. Additionally, higher insulin resistance and lower HDL levels were linked to elevated amyloid levels in the brain. Among individuals with higher HDL levels, the effects of visceral fat on amyloid pathology were partially mitigated.

In a second study presented by the research team at the same conference, it was found that obesity and visceral fat reduce blood flow to the brain.

The researchers emphasised that lifestyle changes targeting fat reduction could influence the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Also read: HealthMin says HIV infections show annual decrease of 26%

Source: ANA-MPA

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Defective airbags: Vehicle immobilisation mandatory by law

The issue of defective Takata airbags was urgently brought...

Fast-track building permit issuance now in effect

The Ministry of the Interior announced today that a...

Project managers draw closer for major developments

The countdown has begun for the activation of the...

New brand of faulty airbags: “My grandkids were just in the car”

A new complaint regarding faulty airbags from a company...