A recent study suggests that having a ‘middle-aged’ spread or a beer belly could signal a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s within the next 20 years. The study, conducted by American researchers, found that people with more visceral fat – the fat that forms around vital organs like the heart, stomach, and liver – had higher levels of abnormal proteins in the brain, a key indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.
This groundbreaking research suggests that the presence of visceral fat in people in their 40s and 50s could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease, which is the leading cause of dementia. Currently, the disease affects almost seven million people in the US and nearly one million people in the UK.
Visceral fat differs from other types of fat as it wraps around organs, and in some cases, doesn’t significantly alter body mass index (BMI). This means that even those who maintain a healthy BMI could still be at risk. Often, particularly in men, this fat is visible as a ‘beer belly’.
The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Researchers analyzed health data from 80 individuals in their 40s and 50s with normal cognitive abilities, meaning they showed no current signs of dementia.
The study participants underwent scans to track their visceral fat levels and to detect amyloid proteins linked to Alzheimer’s in their brains. The results revealed a clear correlation: higher levels of visceral fat were associated with increased amyloid proteins.
While obesity has long been recognized as a risk factor for dementia, this study calculated that visceral fat contributed to 77 per cent of obesity-related amyloid accumulation in the brain.
Dr Mahsa Dolatshahi, a research associate at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and author of the study, emphasized that this research is pioneering in establishing this link. “To our knowledge, our study is the only one to demonstrate these findings at midlife…when potential modifications like weight loss and reducing visceral fat are more effective as a means of preventing or delaying the onset of the disease,” she said.
Currently, almost one million Brits are thought to be living with dementia, about one in 14 people over the age of 65. However, this figure is predicted to rise to nearly 1.5 million in the coming decades as the population continues to age. In the US, about 7 million people have dementia; a figure expected to exceed 12 million by 2040.
The disorder is estimated to cost the UK £43 billion per year, a bill expected to double by 2040. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Labour MP and peer John Prescott died after a battle with Alzheimer’s late last month.
Experts suggest that a waist circumference of 80cm or more for women, and 94cm or more for men, is a good measure of visceral fat. The discovery of this link offers hope, suggesting that interventions such as diet and exercise to reduce visceral fat could have a significant impact on dementia rates in the future.
@brendan.oxford5How to lose a beer gut♬ original sound – Brendan Oxford
This study sheds new light on the relationship between obesity and Alzheimer’s disease, especially regarding the role of visceral fat. While previous research has established a link between obesity and dementia, this is the first to identify visceral fat as a significant contributor to Alzheimer’s-related brain changes at midlife. This discovery could have far-reaching implications for early detection and prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s.
The fact that people with a healthy BMI can also be at risk due to visceral fat debunks the common misconception that weight-related health risks are confined to visibly overweight or obese individuals. It broadens our understanding of health risks related to body composition and highlights the importance of focusing on more than just BMI when assessing health.
Furthermore, it offers hope for future prevention strategies. If visceral fat levels can be reduced through diet and exercise interventions, it opens up a new pathway for potentially preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. This could have a profound effect on future dementia rates and bring about a significant shift in public health strategies.
It’s important to note that this research is still in its early stages, and further studies will be needed to confirm these findings and explore their implications fully. However, this study serves as a crucial first step towards understanding how midlife health indicators can signal future Alzheimer’s risk. It provides compelling evidence for why maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout life – including keeping visceral fat levels in check – is more important than ever.
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