Belly fat linked to cognitive decline
In the largest study of its type, researchers conclude that having higher levels of belly fat in old age is correlated with a reduction in cognitive function.
Dementias, including Alzheimer's, are a growing concern. As the average age of the population steadily rises, their prevalence increases.
Currently, an estimated 47 million people worldwide are affected by dementia. This number is expected to rise to 75 million by 2030.
Understanding the risk factors involved in these conditions is important; it gives us potential interventions to help reduce the risk of dementia developing as we grow older. One such risk factor is obesity.
Earlier studies have demonstrated that adults who are overweight do not fare as well in memory and visuospatial tasks. However, whether this relationship continues into older age is not well understood.
Although previous studies have looked into this query, they produced contradictory results. And, because each study involved different types of cognitive test, it is difficult to pool the results and conduct a meta-analysis.
