Research reveals that detecting 'concealed' fat could forecast Alzheimer's disease up to 20 years prior to manifestation of symptoms.
A neurologist suggests that making healthy lifestyle changes could lower the risk.
Numerous health issues have been associated with excessive body fat, including those that affect the brain.
Research on Alzheimer's disease has revealed that fat deposits in different body parts can serve as an early warning sign of the condition, up to 20 years before symptoms appear.
The annual Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting in Chicago saw the presentation of the study findings this week.
The discovery of this critical result was due to investigating Alzheimer's disease pathology early in midlife, specifically in the 40s and 50s, when the disease is at its initial stages. As a result, potential modifications such as weight loss and reducing visceral fat are more effective in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease, according to lead study author Mahsa Dolatshahi, M.D., a post-doctoral research associate at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at the Washington University School of Medicine, in a press release.
According to the release, researchers evaluated 80 middle-aged adults (average age of 49 years) who did not exhibit any cognitive impairment in a study.
The researchers evaluated the possible link between indicators of Alzheimer's disease and manageable lifestyle factors, specifically obesity, metabolic health, and BMI.
Brain scans, body MRIs, cholesterol panels, and blood glucose and insulin level measurements were part of the tests conducted.
The study utilized MRI technology to examine body fat more closely and establish a stronger link between it and Alzheimer's disease, according to the release.
A study found that higher insulin resistance and lower HDL were linked to high levels of amyloid in the brain, which is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
The senior study author, Cyrus A. Raji, M.D., Ph.D., stated that managing Alzheimer's risk in obesity requires targeting the related metabolic and lipid issues that arise with higher body fat.
The research team also explored the impact of obesity and abdominal fat on brain blood flow in a separate study being presented this week.
Three out of four Americans are overweight or obese, the researchers noted.
The number of Americans aged 65 and older diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is predicted to increase from approximately 6.9 million to 13 million by 2050.
"The good news is these risk factors can be lowered with a healthy lifestyle and routine exercise."
A board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, did not participate in the study but offered his insights on the findings.
The expert informed Planet Chronicle Digital that we have been aware of the risks of visceral fat to various body organs for some time, mainly due to its ability to promote inflammatory changes, and this also applies to the brain.
The most notable aspect for Murray was the early onset of brain changes.
The study of GLP-1 medications for diabetes and obesity will also be examined in this context, as stated by Murray.
For more Health articles, visit planetchronicle.net/health
"The research highlights the significance of physicians and insurance providers prioritizing prevention and the long-term advantages of addressing risk factors early, rather than waiting for patients to exhibit symptoms."
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