Obesity Linked to 30% Higher Dementia Risk, U.S. Obesity Rate Raises Concern
New research reveals a significant link between obesity and dementia risk. Studies show that being obese between the ages of 35 and 65 increases the likelihood of developing dementia by approximately 30%.
Scientists like Frank Jessen at the Cologne Excellence Cluster on Aging Research (CECAD) and Prof. Bading at the Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (IZN) have led studies confirming this connection. They found that obesity influences multiple processes in Alzheimer's disease (AD), including neuronal damage, through changes in lipid metabolism. Higher BMI is associated with smaller brain volumes and lower cortical thickness, further supporting the link.
The U.S. has a high obesity rate, with approximately 40% of the population affected. This is concerning given that AD already impacts more than 7 million people. While previous studies link dyslipidemia with dementia risk, the evidence on risk reduction via lipid-lowering is mixed. However, researchers have discovered that obesity decreases resilience to dementia and causes inflammation, which is linked to the disease.
Recent findings suggest that obesity-related factors, such as altered lipid cargo in extracellular vesicles, may affect amyloid-ꞵ buildup in AD. Future work should focus on using drug therapy to stop or slow the build-up of AD-associated proteins in at-risk individuals, potentially reducing dementia risk.
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