A groundbreaking study presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting reveals a critical link between visceral fat and Alzheimer’s disease pathology up to 20 years before dementia symptoms appear. Researchers examined 80 cognitively normal midlife individuals and found that higher levels of visceral fat were associated with increased amyloid and tau protein accumulation in the brain, accounting for 77% of obesity-related Alzheimer’s pathology.
The study, led by Dr. Mahsa Dolatshahi, emphasizes that other types of body fat did not exhibit the same correlation, while also noting that higher insulin resistance and lower HDL cholesterol were linked to increased brain amyloid levels. By investigating Alzheimer’s disease in individuals in their 40s and 50s, the researchers highlighted the potential effectiveness of lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss, in preventing or delaying disease onset. With nearly three out of four Americans being overweight or obese, these findings could have significant implications for public health and future Alzheimer’s prevention strategies.
Image from iStock by Chinnapong.