When considering obesity, we often immediately consider its long-term negative impacts on heart health. However, recent medical advice suggests that excessive weight can also have a hazardous effect on the brain. For example, a recent study has shown that obesity can lead to symptoms typically associated with Alzheimer’s.
Obesity and Alzheimer’s disease cause thinning of the gray matter in the brain
The Study discovered that both Alzheimer’s disease and obesity could result in thinning of gray matter in the left prefrontal and right temporoparietal cortex of the brain. Consequently, researchers suggest weight loss could slow cognitive decline and reduce dementia. The Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital at McGill University researchers also speculate that obesity and Alzheimer’s disease may cause the same neurodegeneration.
In the past, researchers have linked obesity to Alzheimer’s disease. However, the latest Study has gone further by directly comparing the brain atrophy arrays observed in obesity and Alzheimer’s. Similar to Alzheimer’s, obesity can lead to cerebrovascular damage that impairs blood flow to the brain. In addition, it can also result in amyloid-β accumulation, which can trigger brain degeneration.
Obesity affects multiple systems, including the brain
According to experts, obesity is not just a condition that affects multiple bodily systems, such as the heart, colon, stomach, and lungs. This latest Study sheds light on the significant impact of obesity on the brain.
Ph.D. scientist at The Neuro and the first Study of the Study Filip Morys said that the Study strengthens past literature, indicating that obesity is an important factor in AD by demonstrating that cortical thinning could be among the possible risk mechanism. Morys added that the results demonstrate the significance of decreasing weight in overweight and obese individuals in midlife.
Researchers developed a gray matter atrophy map for AD patients, a healthy placebo group, overweight individuals, and those that were not obese. The scientists sampled gray matter atrophy in 1,300 individuals and drew comparisons between obese and AD individuals.
The findings of the Study first appeared in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
