Visceral abdominal fat has been linked with Alzheimer's disease. Discover how hidden belly fat affects brain health and explore insights for early intervention.
Highlights:
Higher levels of visceral abdominal fat in midlife are connected to the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study that will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) (1). Visceral fat is the fat that surrounds the internal organs deep within the abdomen. Researchers discovered that this hidden belly fat is linked to brain changes up to 15 years before the onset of Alzheimer's disease memory loss symptoms.
- Visceral fat, surrounding internal organs, links to Alzheimer's up to 15 years before symptoms
- Around 6.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's; estimates predict 13.8 million by 2060, affecting one in five women and one in ten men
- Higher levels connect to increased amyloid absorption and brain inflammation, highlighting a potential therapy target
Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimer''s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.
Alzheimer''s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.
‘Unveiling the surprising link between belly fat and Alzheimer's! Discover how midlife visceral fat levels impact brain health and the potential therapy target for reducing dementia risk. #alzheimers #brainhealth #visceralfat’
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Prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease Among Americans
According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 6.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. This figure is expected to climb to approximately 13.8 million by 2060 (2). Alzheimer's disease affects one out of every five women and one out of every ten males in their lifetime (3).Advertisement
Diet and Alzheimer´s Disease
Alzheimer''s begins with forgetfulness, but over time affects speech and coordination along with drastic behavioral changes. The right diet may lower your risk by 40%. So isn''t a diet change worth it?
Alzheimer''s begins with forgetfulness, but over time affects speech and coordination along with drastic behavioral changes. The right diet may lower your risk by 40%. So isn''t a diet change worth it?
Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat Linked with Amyloid and Tau Proteins that Build Up in Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers investigated the relationship between brain MRI volumes, as well as amyloid and tau uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and body mass index (BMI), obesity, insulin resistance, and abdominal adipose (fatty) tissue in a cognitively normal midlife population. Amyloid and tau proteins are thought to disrupt communication between brain cells.“Even though there have been other studies linking BMI with brain atrophy or even a higher dementia risk, no prior study has linked a specific type of fat to the actual Alzheimer’s disease protein in cognitively normal people,” said study author Mahsa Dolatshahi, M.D., M.P.H., a post-doctoral research fellow with Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Similar studies have not investigated the differential role of visceral and subcutaneous fat, especially in terms of Alzheimer’s amyloid pathology, as early as midlife.”
Researchers analyzed data from 54 cognitively healthy people ranging in age from 40 to 60 years old, with an average BMI of 32, for this cross-sectional study. Glucose and insulin levels were measured, as well as glucose tolerance tests, on the subjects. Abdominal MRI was used to determine the volume of subcutaneous fat (fat beneath the skin) and visceral fat. The cortical thickness of brain regions affected by Alzheimer's disease was assessed using brain MRI. PET imaging was utilized to investigate disease pathology in a subset of 32 people, with a focus on amyloid plaques and tau tangles that build in Alzheimer's disease.
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Genetics of Alzheimer´s disease
There are numerous genes that have been discovered that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and indicate increased risk, aiding genetic counseling and better care.
There are numerous genes that have been discovered that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and indicate increased risk, aiding genetic counseling and better care.
Higher Visceral Fat Levels Increase Brain Inflammation
The researchers discovered that a larger visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio was related to higher amyloid PET tracer absorption in the precuneus cortex, which is known to be damaged early in Alzheimer's disease by amyloid pathology. Men had a worse connection than women. The researchers also discovered that larger levels of visceral fat are associated with an increased load of inflammation in the brain.“Several pathways are suggested to play a role,” Dr. Dolatshahi said. “Inflammatory secretions of visceral fat—as opposed to potentially protective effects of subcutaneous fat—may lead to inflammation in the brain, one of the main mechanisms contributing to Alzheimer’s disease.”
Common Lifestyle Habits that Cause Diseases
Cigarette smoking, unhealthy diets, overuse of alcohol, and physical inactivity are some of the most common lifestyle habits that cause chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Cigarette smoking, unhealthy diets, overuse of alcohol, and physical inactivity are some of the most common lifestyle habits that cause chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Visceral Fat: Possible Therapy Target for Reducing Risk of Dementia
The findings have several important implications for earlier diagnosis and intervention, according to senior author Cyrus A. Raji, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of radiology and neurology, and director of neuromagnetic resonance imaging at MIR.“This study highlights a key mechanism by which hidden fat can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. “It shows that such brain changes occur as early as age 50, on average—up to 15 years before the earliest memory loss symptoms of Alzheimer’s occur.”
Dr. Raji went on to say that the findings could lead to visceral fat as a therapy target for reducing the risk of future brain inflammation and dementia. “By moving beyond body mass index in better characterizing the anatomical distribution of body fat on MRI, we now have a uniquely better understanding of why this factor may increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.
References:
- Hidden belly fat in midlife linked to Alzheimer’s disease - (https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1007871)
- 2023 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36918389/)
- [Sex differences in Alzheimer's disease]- (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18381051/)
