Hidden belly fat may predict Alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms start

Belly fat

has been regarded as a serious health concern, not without a reason. The deep-seated

visceral fat

could invite a range of health conditions including those that affect your brain. A new study has found that people who harbor

deep belly fat

could be more at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease-specific proteins in the brain 20 years before the symptom-onset, than those who do not have such fat.
Obese people, especially those with belly fat issues have another reason to get rid of this pesky fat – to protect their brain from

Alzheimer’s disease

, the most common type of dementia.
The study scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago delves deep into the mechanism of how deep belly fat can reduce blood flow to the brain and leads to accumulation of Alzheimer’s disease-specific proteins, known as

beta-amyloid

and tau.
The findings have talked about these very early changes that usually occur in midlife – in people’s 40s and 50s, decades before initial symptoms of Alzheimer’s begin.

Why belly fat is the most dangerous of all

Belly fat is linked to reduced blood flow to the brain and accumulation of certain proteins that could cause Alzheimer’s.
According to a study published in Annals of Neurology that explored the relationship between midlife

obesity

and

brain aging

markers, it was found that higher BMI, WC, WHR, SAT, and VAT were linked to lower total brain volume (TCBV). Visceral fat (VAT) showed the strongest and most robust negative association, independent of BMI and insulin resistance. The study found that visceral fat, more than subcutaneous fat or general obesity, may significantly influence brain aging processes, highlighting the importance of addressing abdominal obesity for

cognitive health

in midlife.
Having a higher level of the good cholesterol (HDL) reduces belly fat’s impact on these abnormal proteins in the brain, the researchers of the new study noted.

What is belly fat?

Belly fat is a fat that accumulates deep within the abdominal cavity and surrounds internal organs like the stomach, liver, intestines, and others. It’s also known as visceral fat, and it’s different from subcutaneous fat, which is the fat that sits just beneath the skin.
Visceral or belly fat can influence the production of cholesterol by releasing free fatty acids into the bloodstream and liver. Besides, there is a wide variety of diseases that can occur due to belly fat.
Visceral fat makes more of the proteins called cytokines, which can trigger low-level inflammation, a risk factor for heart disease and other chronic conditions, according to Harvard Health.
(Images courtesy: iStock)