Scientists at McGill University have discovered a mechanism by which being overweight can lead to neurodegeneration that leads to cognitive decline. This means taking steps to lose weight and maintain a healthy body composition may help prevent dementia as we age.
Obesity rates around the world have increased dramatically in recent decades. This has sparked the interest of researchers to understand the neural mechanisms underpinning obesity. Obesity is known to put people at risk for many health problems, but new research suggests it may even be linked to Alzheimer's. Numerous neuroimaging studies have noted that gray matter density may be reduced in certain regions of the brain in obese people.
Excess fat accumulation in the body represents overweight and obesity. The two conditions differ in the amount of excess fat accumulated, usually defined using body mass index. Body mass index (BMI) is the square of a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by the person's height in meters (kg/m2). A BMI value between 25 and 30 indicates that a person is overweight, while a BMI value of 30 and above indicates that a person is obese.
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Researchers at McGill University's Neurocentre recently conducted groundbreaking research that sheds light on the impact obesity has on our brains. Most people now know that obesity is not just a number and can have a huge impact on the whole body, but few consider the effect of obesity on the brain, or that obesity is linked to increased numbers of Alzheimer's and dementia There is a direct contact case.
The relationship between obesity and cognitive function appears to be well-established, including increased inflammation, hormone regulation, glucose metabolism, and insulin resistance. These are all part of the inflammation that leads to the deterioration of brain function and cells.
The researchers said the study was motivated by a previous study in which they found that patterns of neurodegeneration associated with obesity were visually similar to those seen in Alzheimer's disease . In the study, they found atrophy of brain mass and loss of brain cells in obese patients and Alzheimer's patients.
By making small but important lifestyle adjustments, such as exercising more, removing processed foods from our diet, and reducing stress, we can have a positive impact on brain health. It is key to be aware of the detrimental effects these conditions can have on dementia – their prevalence underscores how important it is for us to focus on implementing interventions to combat metabolic risk factors to reduce long-term damage.
