Researchers at the Radiological Society of North America report a connection between visceral fat that surrounds the organs and Alzheimer’s. Study findings predict the disease 20 years before any symptoms show. 

During research, the relationship between specific proteins in the brain that are tied to Alzheimer’s and visceral fat was examined in 80 people with an average age of 49.4 years. Approximately half of the subjects were considered obese, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 32.31. Data was gathered using brain positron emission tomography (PET), body MRI, metabolic assessment, and a cholesterol panel. The study examined both, visceral fat and subcutaneous fat that’s under the skin. 

“We investigated the association of BMI, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, liver fat fraction, thigh fat and muscle, as well as insulin resistance and HDL (good cholesterol), with amyloid and tau deposition in Alzheimer’s disease,” said lead study author Mahsa Dolatshahi, M.D., M.P.H., post-doctoral research associate at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. “Our study showed that higher visceral fat was associated with higher PET levels of the two hallmark pathologic proteins of Alzheimer’s disease — amyloid and tau,” 

And while the Alzheimer’s Association estimates  6.9 million Americans, aged 65 and older, live with Alzheimer’s, this study’s results could buy time for middle-aged individuals. With early detection, there’s time to turn things around by modifying lifestyle and habits. 

“This work will have a considerable impact on public health because nearly three out of four Americans are overweight or obese,” said senior study author Cyrus A. Raji, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of radiology at MIR.

Sources:
https://press.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/14_pr_target.cfm?ID=2541
https://www.alz.org