Scientists have discovered that fat stored around the abdomen may pose a risk to brain health. A new study indicates that older men with a significant amount of abdominal fat have nearly a 50 percent higher risk of developing dementia compared to those with less belly fat. Notably, overall excess weight on its own wasn`t consistently detrimental; the critical factor appeared to be *where* the fat was accumulated. The findings were published in the Alzheimer`s & Dementia Journal.
The research involved over 17,000 participants aged 65 and older from Australia and the United States. All were initially healthy and underwent regular cognitive assessments. The results showed that men with increased abdominal girth were more likely to experience declines in memory, slower cognitive processing, and reduced reaction times. This association was not observed in women in the study.
Interestingly, individuals with greater muscle mass demonstrated a lower risk of dementia. Furthermore, an unexpected finding was that participants with a higher total body fat mass, but without a pronounced belly, exhibited slower cognitive aging. This suggests that body fat isn`t universally harmful, but its concentration in the abdominal area could be particularly dangerous.
According to the study`s authors, maintaining brain health in older age may be less about focusing solely on weight loss and more about preserving muscle mass and preventing the accumulation of abdominal fat. Simple lifestyle measures such as regular physical activity, a diet rich in protein, and sufficient fiber intake can help achieve this goal.
