A Bigger Belly May Make You Forget

We hear it all the time; extra weight is not good for our bodies. News reports, magazines, and doctors tell us that carrying extra weight puts us at risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and a number of other health problems. On March 26, the journal Neurology even released a study which claims that extra abdominal fat puts people at risk for dementia, a progressive loss of cognitive functions that is associated with brain injury. Specifically, Neurology reported that the percentage of abdominal fat in midlife correlates with the risk of being diagnosed with dementia; the higher the percentage, the higher the risk. Some researchers even suggest that abdominal weight can be a bigger risk factor than family history.

In the Neurology study, the nonprofit organization Kaiser Permanente examined the medical records of 6,583 people between the ages of 40 and 50, from the 1960's and 1970's. By 2006, 15.9% of the sample had been diagnosed with dementia. Other statistics show that 324.3 of 1,000 overweight patients have developed dementia, while 214.6 out of 1,000 patients with a normal weight developed a type of mental disorder. Rachel Whitmer, research scientist at Kaiser Permanente, says that where you carry excess fat is more of a predictor than actual body weight. "You can have a healthy body mass index but have a risk of dementia due to belly fat", she explains.

Unfortunately, researchers aren't exactly sure how visceral fat affects the human brain. One hypothesis is that since abdominal fats may be metabolically active, they accelerate the spread of toxins and cause atherosclerosis in the brain. Typically, this condition is seen in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

What can be done to reduce the risk of dementia?

Find Out if You Are At Risk – The Mayo Clinic says that in men, the risk of dementia affects those with a waist size of 40 inches or more. With women, the risk comes with a belly that is 35 inches or more; however, other researchers claim that 33 or 34 inches can also be risky. To find where you stand, use a measuring tape and breathe normally. Pull the tape around your midsection at navel level.

Exercise Regularly – We hear this advice all the time, but it's true. Moving your body is an essential part of staying healthy. According to the Mayo Clinic, when you move more and eat less, belly fat is the first kind of fat to go. The best part of getting exercise is that it can also act as a stress-buster. Stress can cause over-eating, anxiety, and loss of sleep – all of which contribute to extra belly-weight.

Pay Attention to What You're Eating – Nobody wants to hear a list of things they cannot eat, so the best advice may be "everything in moderation, even moderation". Instead of reaching for that bag of Doritos mid-afternoon, have an apple! Eating healthier, smaller portions can help you lose weight and make you feel better. Your body – and brain – will thank you.

Resources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/health/research/01risk.html?ref=health
https://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-dementia27mar27,1,2099723.story
https://www.emaxhealth.com/109/21367.html
https://health.usnews.com/articles/health/brain-and-behavior/2008/03/26/belly-fat-is-linked-to-dementia-risk.html