Midlife Waistline Expansion Predicts Dementia Risk in Women

According to a recent study published in the journal Menopause, women who experience an expanding waistline during middle age are at a greater risk of developing dementia as they get older. The research suggests that a woman's waist size could provide vital clues about her risk of mental decline in the future.

Medics explain that weight gain, particularly around the midriff, is common during the perimenopause and post-menopause stages. This weight increase, coupled with the drop in estrogen levels typical after menopause, is linked to reduced insulin sensitivity and heightened inflammatory processes. The study indicates that this "central adiposity," or excessive belly fat, is a significant risk factor for cognitive decline.

Health professionals highlight that visceral adipose tissue—the fat stored around organs like the stomach, intestines, and liver—carries more health risks than overall body fat. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The rise in inflammatory markers due to visceral fat and falling estrogen levels during menopause appears to be a key factor in these disease processes.