Midlife Visceral Fat Linked to Increased Alzheimer's Risk

Hidden abdominal fat associated with early brain changes and inflammation, potentially offering a target for early Alzheimer's intervention.

New research presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America indicates that higher levels of visceral abdominal fat in midlife are linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
The study found that this hidden abdominal fat is related to changes in the brain up to 15 years before the earliest memory loss symptoms of Alzheimer's disease occur.
The research involved brain scans of 54 participants and indicates that this type of fat is associated with early brain changes and inflammation.
Higher visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio was associated with higher amyloid PET tracer uptake in the precuneus cortex, the region known to be affected early by amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease.
The study suggests that visceral fat could be a treatment target to modify risk of future brain inflammation and dementia.