A study has found that having a high level of fat around the belly increases the chance of being diagnosed with any kind of dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease
An excess of belly fat could increase your risk of developing a severe cognitive condition by 13 per cent, according to a study. The research suggests that the amount of fat around your waistline could be a predictor of your likelihood of developing dementia.
It’s well-known that being overweight can have detrimental effects on your health, with obesity linked to an increased risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. However, this particular study highlights a specific type of fat as especially harmful.
The research, published in the Neurology journal, concluded that having a high level of abdominal fat increases the chances of being diagnosed with any form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, by 13 per cent.
This was in comparison to those with low levels of abdominal fat. Furthermore, it was found that having more fat around the arms increased this risk by 18 per cent.
As highlighted by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the study also reported that individuals with high muscle strength are 26 per cent less likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases compared to those with low strength levels. For the purposes of the study, the team utilised data from nearly 413,000 individuals included in the UK Biobank database.
None of the participants had a neurodegenerative disease at the beginning of the study. The researchers measured their bodies to determine the amount of fat, muscle, and bone they had in different areas.
Muscle strength was assessed through grip strength measurements. Participants were categorised into groups according to whether they carried excessive fat around their abdomen, arms or legs relative to their total body fat.
Over an average follow-up period of nine years, 8,224 participants received a neurodegenerative disease diagnosis. This encompassed 6,076 people with some form of dementia, 2,933 with Alzheimer’s disease and 2,427 with Parkinson’s disease.
The research demonstrated that elevated fat levels around the abdomen or arms were linked to a heightened risk of these conditions. In contrast, participants with substantial leg fat, robust muscle strength, or high bone density showed a reduced likelihood of developing such diseases.
Study participants carrying higher fat levels were also discovered to face greater cardiovascular disease risk, representing one of the leading global causes of mortality. The BHF observed: “It is already known that having too much body fat increases the risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.
“With more analysis of the data, the researchers found that in many cases there was a link between having a heart and circulatory disease and developing these brain-damaging conditions. For example, 35 per cent of those with a high amount of belly fat, who developed a neurodegenerative disease, also had a heart or circulatory disease, and for those with a high amount of arm fat this was 14 per cent.”
Other research
This isn’t the first study to establish a connection between abdominal fat and cognitive health. A 2011 study published in the Annals of Neurology discovered that having visceral fat during middle age was linked with a decrease in brain volume.
The study stated: “In middle-aged community participants we observed a significant inverse association of anthropometric and CT-based measures of abdominal, especially visceral, fat with total brain volume.”
How much fat is considered too much?
Visceral fat is the fat located deep within the abdomen. While a certain amount is necessary for organ protection and insulation, an excess can heighten the risk of various health issues. To estimate your visceral fat levels, experts from the Cleveland Clinic recommend using a tape measure around your waist, just above your hip bones.
“For women, 35 inches or more means you’re at risk for health problems stemming from visceral fat,” they advised. “For men, the number is 40 inches or more.”
If you have concerns about your weight, it’s advisable to consult your GP.