 |
| Image Source: Pexels |
Key Takeaways
- A new study in the journal Obesity measured levels of fat in the pancreas, liver, and abdomen in middle-aged men and women at heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
- The study found a correlation between elevated levels of pancreatic fat and lower levels of cognitive function and brain volume in men, but not women.
- It’s theoretically possible that high amounts of pancreatic fat could lead to decreased production of insulin, which might affect brain function. More research is needed.
In middle-aged men with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, higher amounts of fat in the pancreas and liver may be associated with lower cognitive function and smaller brain volume, according to new research published in the journal Obesity.[1]
The findings align with previous studies indicating that obesity in midlife[2]
and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes[3]
may be connected to an increased likelihood of dementia and brain aging.
“We think of dementia and cognitive decline with old age, but we’re showing that already in midlife there is a relationship between such a risk factor as abdominal organ fat and cognitive function and brain volumes,” says study author Michal Schnaider Beeri, PhD, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at Rutgers Brain Health Institute in New Jersey.
Men in the Study Had More Pancreatic Fat Than Women
For the analysis, Dr. Beeri and her collaborators selected 204 adults who are the offspring of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Participants ranged in age from 40 to 65, and 60 percent were women.
Subjects underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging to measure fat in the pancreas, liver, and abdomen and to assess brain volumes. To evaluate cognitive function, participants completed a battery of tests, including ones related to memory, language, and visual attention.
Specifically, the results highlighted that greater pancreatic fat was associated with lower cognition and brain volume in middle-aged males at high Alzheimer's risk — but not females. This suggests a potential sex-specific link between distinct abdominal fat and brain health, according to Beeri.
“We don’t know why the association was stronger in men, but they had higher levels of pancreatic fat than women,” she says.
“Theoretically, a man’s pancreas may be less functional and the brain might be more affected,” speculates Beeri, emphasizing that the results show a relationship but do not prove that pancreatic fat is a cause of problems with memory and thinking.
Yuko Hara, PhD, director of Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), points out that too much fat in the pancreas can lead to decreased secretion of insulin, which plays an important role in directing glucose from the blood into cells that need it for energy, including neurons in the brain.
“Too much pancreatic fat can also lead to insulin resistance, which can result in type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Hara, who was not involved in the study. “Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for dementia. Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease share several characteristics, such as impaired insulin signaling and oxidative stress.”
BMI May Not Be the Best Way to Assess Obesity-Related Cognitive Risk
The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that obesity between the ages of 35 and 65 can increase dementia risk in later-life by about 30 percent.[4]
Although body mass index (BMI) has been the typical way to establish obesity, this study challenges the conventional use of BMI as the primary measure for assessing obesity-related cognitive risks.
The results suggest that measuring fat percentage in specific organs or tissues may be a better way of determining a person’s likelihood of developing dementia.
Study Results Limited to Offspring of People With Alzheimer’s
Because the people in the study were all middle-aged offspring of people living with Alzheimer’s, Heather Snyder, PhD, vice president of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer’s Association, stresses that the results do not represent middle-aged adults as a whole.
“Future studies are needed to replicate and confirm these results with larger and more representative study groups,” says Dr. Snyder, who was not involved in the investigation.
Anyone Can Take Action to Promote Brain Health
While measuring abdominal organ fat percentage is not part of routine clinical care, it is clear that addressing metabolic health risk factors (such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and physical inactivity) is important for brain health and dementia prevention, according to Hara.
“There are many ways to improve metabolic health by increasing physical activity, managing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, and eating a brain-healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet,” she says.
Sources
- Shekhtman S et al. Abdominal Fat Depots Are Related to Lower Cognitive Functioning and Brain Volumes in Middle-Aged Males at High Alzheimer’s Risk. Obesity. February 2024.
- Ma Y et al. Higher Risk of Dementia in English Older Individuals Who Are Overweight or Obese. International Journal of Epidemiology. June 23, 2020.
- Cholerton B et al. Type 2 Diabetes, Cognition, and Dementia in Older Adults: Toward a Precision Health Approach. DiabetesSpectrum. November 2016.
- Obesity and Dementia Risk. Alzheimer’s Society. December 2023.
Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.everydayhealth.com by Don Rauf where all credits are due.
Disclaimer
The watching, interacting, and participation of any kind with anything on this page does not constitute or initiate a doctor-patient relationship with Veripeudic.com. None of the statements here have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products of Vesripeudic.com are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information being provided should only be considered for education and entertainment purposes only. If you feel that anything you see or hear may be of value to you on this page or on any other medium of any kind associated with, showing, or quoting anything relating to Veripeudic.com in any way at any time, you are encouraged to and agree to consult with a licensed healthcare professional in your area to discuss it. If you feel that you’re having a healthcare emergency, seek medical attention immediately. The views expressed here are simply either the views and opinions of Veripeudic.com or others appearing and are protected under the first amendment.
Veripeudic.com promotes evidence-based natural approaches to health, which means integrating her individual scientific and clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. By individual clinical expertise, I refer to the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice.
Veripeudic.com does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of any multimedia content provided. Veripeudic.com does not warrant the performance, effectiveness, or applicability of any sites listed, linked, or referenced to, in, or by any multimedia content.
To be clear, the multimedia content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen in any website, video, image, or media of any kind. Veripeudic.com hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is, and without warranties.
