According to researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at Boston University, obesity can be linked to a smaller brain size.
Researchers also say that obesity increases the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
733 participants with an average age of 60 took part in this study. Researchers measured their body mass index, abdominal fat, and the volume of their brains using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, researchers observed the density of plaque in their brains which often characterizes diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Sudha Seshadri says, "Our results confirm the inverse association of increasing BMI with lower brain volumes in older adults and with younger, middle-aged adults and extends the findings to a much larger study sample. More importantly our data suggests a stronger connection between central obesity, particularly the visceral fat component of abdominal obesity, and risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Our findings, while preliminary, provide greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying the link between obesity and dementia."
These new findings could therefore lead to new prevention strategies.
According to 2005 data from the World Health Organization, 4.6 million new cases of dementia are reported each year worldwide.