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First and foremost, middle-aged men are at the highest risk. Scientists warn that an increase in abdominal fat can lead to brain aging and a decline in cognitive functions. Researchers also believe that significant fat deposits in the pancreas and liver conceal a high risk of developing dementia.
What Researchers Discovered
Scientists analyzed health data from 204 middle-aged men and women with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, as reported by the Daily Mail. The team found that men with a large amount of abdominal fat exhibited more significant cognitive impairments than other participants.
Previously, researchers noted that men with a high body mass index (BMI) are often at an increased risk of developing dementia.
Michał Schneider-Biry from the Rutgers Health research center in New Jersey remarked, “In middle-aged men at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease (but not in women), higher levels of fat in the pancreas were associated with lower cognitive abilities and reduced brain volume.” This suggests a potential gender link between different types of abdominal fat and brain health, the scientist stated.
His colleague Sapir Golan Shechtman from the Shiba Medical Center in Israel added, “Our results indicate stronger correlations compared to the relationships between BMI and cognitive abilities.” Therefore, he said, it is the fat deposits in the abdominal cavity, rather than BMI, that are a significant risk factor for cognitive decline, including dementia.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Obesity.
What Else Is Known About the Threat of Fat Deposits
Previously, the portal “50+” reported on the dangers of excess fat accumulating around the torso and vital organs, known as visceral fat. This type of fat contributes to the development of a beer belly and the health-risking “apple” body shape.
Researchers have identified visceral fat as the most dangerous type of fat, as it causes fatty acids to leak into the bloodstream. This differs from the less harmful subcutaneous fat, which accumulates just beneath the skin and is responsible for conditions like cellulite.
One previous study involving over 2.5 million people showed that every additional 10 centimeters of waist circumference is associated with an 11% increase in the risk of premature death from any cause.
Numerous studies have also shown that waist size is a more reliable indicator of obesity and a greater contributor to the development of type 2 diabetes and heart disease than body mass index.
Meanwhile, having wide or large hips, according to scientists, correlates with a longer lifespan.
