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Having extra body weight can lead to a bigger waistline ... but it may also be associated with a different effect in your brain. Hi, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines, host of HealthDay TV. Experts have found that being obese, especially in middle age, is linked to a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. New research published in the journal Annals of Neurology shed more light on the possible links between body weight and dementia.
The researchers included more than 700 people who underwent body measurements and an MRI scan of their brain. Participants were 60 years old on average. The researchers found that as people's body mass index and waist circumference went up, their total brain volume went down.
They found an especially strong relationship between having more visceral fat and lower brain volume. Visceral fat is buried deep in the midsection, as opposed to the fat under the skin that can be more easily seen and felt.
According to the authors, the link between obesity and brain volume might be due to the inflammation associated with obesity. Diabetes and insulin resistance, which often accompany obesity, may also help explain this finding.
I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.
