The impact abdominal fat has on brain health and cognition has also been found to be more pronounced in middle-aged men at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to women
The study focuses on the relationship between fat distribution and cognitive function, particularly in individuals with a family history of Alzheimer’s.
Led by Michal Schnaider Beeri, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at Rutgers Brain Health Institute, and Ph.D. student Sapir Golan Shekhtman from the Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center at Sheba Medical Center in Israel, the research focused on 204 healthy middle-aged individuals with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s.
Are men at a higher risk than women?
Using MRI scans, the team investigated fat depots in the pancreas, liver, and abdomen to discern any correlations with brain volumes and cognitive function. The findings revealed a significant association between abdominal fat and cognitive decline in middle-aged men at high risk of Alzheimer’s, while this link was not discovered in women.
Abdominal fat distribution
The study questions traditional knowledge about obesity and cognitive health, suggesting that the body mass index (BMI) may not properly represent the risk factors associated with cognitive decline.
Instead, abdominal fat distribution is vital, particularly in males prone to Alzheimer’s. Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. Still, this research emphasises the importance of considering sex-specific differences in fat distribution when assessing cognitive risks associated with obesity.
“Our findings indicate stronger correlations compared to the relationships between BMI and cognition, suggesting that abdominal fat depots, rather than BMI, is a risk factor for lower cognitive functioning and higher dementia risk,” said Shekhtman.
Effectively managing cognitive decline
Targeted medical treatment focusing on reducing abdominal fat could reduce cognitive decline and lower the risk of dementia in middle-aged men.
The researchers highlight the need to explore further sex-specific approaches to combatting the effects of abdominal fat on brain health.
By understanding fat distribution and its relationship to cognitive function, medical treatment can be developed to address the needs of different populations.
This study highlights the importance of considering abdominal fat distribution as a key factor in evaluating cognitive risks associated with obesity, particularly in middle-aged men with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease. By prioritising targeted interventions and further research into sex-specific approaches, cognitive decline can be better understood and effectively managed.
