Belly fat may age the brain: Israeli scientists found a link

Israeli scientists from Ben-Gurion University have found a link between visceral belly fat and accelerated brain aging. A study published in Nature Communications showed that long-term accumulation of internal fat is associated with poorer memory and cognitive function, whereas subcutaneous fat shows no such dependence.

Israeli scientists from Ben-Gurion University have found that visceral belly fat may accelerate brain aging. An international team of researchers examined data from four large nutrition and lifestyle projects. Five to sixteen years after the initial observations, the scientists re-examined 533 participants (average age about 61) using MRI and cognitive tests. It emerged that long-term accumulation of visceral fat is associated with lower scores on tests of memory and thinking. Subcutaneous fat showed no such dependence. A reduction in visceral fat over 18 months was associated with better preservation of overall brain volume and gray matter several years later, even after accounting for overall weight loss. In participants with less visceral fat, brain atrophy developed more slowly. The scientists suggest the mechanism may be linked to improved blood sugar control. The study does not prove a direct causal link, and most participants were men.