Excess fat in certain areas of the human body could make people more prone to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson'sa new study suggests.
The study, published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, linked higher levels of body fat in the arms and abdomen with a greater likelihood of developing these conditions.
In another key finding, people who have more muscular strength had a lower risk of developing these diseases.
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“Overall, the key message from our study findings is that body composition and cardiovascular disease may be potential targets for preventing neurodegenerative diseases,” said senior study author Shishi Xu, a physician in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The study group that had higher levels of abdominal fat was 13% more likely to develop neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's compared with those with lower levels, the researchers found.
Excess fat in certain areas of the body could make people more prone to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, a new study suggests. (iStock)
Participants with higher levels of arm fat had an 18% higher risk.
Those with high muscle strength were 26%. less People with low levels of strength are more likely to develop such diseases, according to Xu.
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The risk of cardiovascular disease also plays a role, he said.
“If you are exposed to adverse body composition patterns, such as abdominal fat, you will be at greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseaseswhich significantly increases the risk of future neurodegenerative diseases,” Xu said.
Higher levels of body fat in the arms and abdomen were linked to a higher likelihood of developing neurological diseases. (iStock)
“In contrast, actively preventing CVD at an early stage after exposure to adverse body composition patterns may reduce the future risk of neurodegenerative diseases by 10.7% to 35.3%.”
Dr. James Galvin, director of the University of Miami Health System's Comprehensive Brain Health Center, was not involved in the study but said he was not surprised by the findings.
“Body composition and cardiovascular disease may be potential targets for preventing neurodegenerative diseases.”
“This is consistent with a body of literature that suggests a bidirectional relationship between the brain and the body,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Loss of muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia) and increased body fat“Visceral fat, in particular, is a risk factor for cognitive decline.”
Potential Limitations
In Observational studies In cases like this, it can be difficult to distinguish between correlation or causation, Xu said.
“While we made significant efforts in this study to get closer to a causal relationship, we recognize that residual reverse causality may still bias our findings,” he told Fox News Digital.
Taking steps to achieve a healthier body composition may be more effective at preventing neurological diseases than general weight control, the researchers said. (iStock)
Although the study suggests that body composition and cardiovascular disease may be potential targets for preventing neurodegenerative diseases, Xu noted that more evidence is needed to confirm that these are causal risk factors.
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Galvin noted that another major limitation of the study was the lack of diversity in the sample.
“This is unfortunate, as obesity is a major risk factor in many minority populations, and our own research has shown that physical frailty is an important mediator of cognitive decline in African American older adults,” she said.
Recommended lifestyle changes
Based on the findings, the researchers said, taking steps to achieve a healthier body composition (such as reducing abdominal and arm fat while promoting healthy muscle development) may be more effective at preventing neurological diseases than general weight control.
“Lifestyle modifications such as performing resistance training, reducing sedentary behavior, and adhering to a diet balance diet “It may be effective in reducing abdominal fat and improving muscle strength, which may potentially offer greater neuroprotective benefits than weight-focused anti-obesity drugs,” Xu said.
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The researchers also said that early treatment of cardiovascular disease may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
The quality or distribution of muscle and fat, rather than absolute weight, may be more important for health, researchers say. (iStock)
According to Xu, the quality or distribution of muscle and fat, rather than absolute weight, may be more important to health.
“In recent years, due to the widespread use and even abuse of Weight loss medications“People have become too concerned about overall weight and often overlook the key role of different body components,” she said.
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Muscle strength is often overlooked, the researcher noted.
“The results of our current study highlight that improving muscle strength is important and may potentially offer neuroprotective benefits,” he said.
“The results of our current study highlight that improving muscle strength is important and may potentially offer neuroprotective benefits,” the researcher said. (iStock)
“Therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and improving muscle strength are crucial.”
Galvin agreed and recommended that people focus on reducing body fat while maintaining skeletal muscle by adding Resistance and flexibility training and change nutritional patterns.
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The doctor added: “As we learn more about the impact of lifestyle on brain health and disease risk, it is becoming increasingly clear that there are many ways to build a better brain as we age.”
