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Belly Fat Linked to Faster Brain Aging
7 May
Summary
- Lower abdominal fat in midlife is associated with slower brain aging.
- Visceral fat, not BMI, impacts brain health via glucose control.
- Reduced abdominal fat predicts better brain structure preservation.
Accumulating visceral fat around the abdomen during midlife is closely linked to accelerated brain aging, a new analysis of MRI scans suggests. The study, following 533 adults for up to 16 years, found that lower abdominal fat was associated with slower brain shrinkage and preserved cognitive function in later years.
Researchers highlighted that visceral fat, specifically, showed a connection to brain aging, largely through its impact on glucose control and insulin sensitivity. This association was not observed with subcutaneous fat or body mass index (BMI), emphasizing the unique role of abdominal fat.
The findings indicate that reductions in visceral fat, even independent of overall weight loss, can predict better long-term preservation of brain structures, including the hippocampus, a key area for memory. This suggests that managing abdominal fat through lifestyle interventions could be a crucial strategy for maintaining brain health and reducing cognitive decline risk.
