Healthy living
Mind matters
Large waist size increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Middle age spread is known to be bad for the heart but now scientists are warning that a large girth could increase the risk of developing dementia too
And it’s not just about keeping your weight down. The large-scale study, published in the journal Neurology, found that a big belly increased the risk of dementia even in people who were the correct weight for their height.
Researchers in the US looked at the health records of over 6,500 people in their seventies. They had all had the fat around their middle measured during routine checkups about 36 years earlier. Those who had recorded the highest amount of abdominal fat in their forties were nearly three times more likely to have developed dementia than those who had trimmer waistlines when they were younger.
‘It is well known that being overweight in midlife and beyond increases risk factors for disease,’ said study author Rachel A Whitmer, ‘However, where one carries the weight - especially in midlife - appears to be an important predictor for dementia risk.’
Why this happens is not quite clear but it is thought that the fat cells deep inside the abdomen produce damaging chemicals that increase tissue inflammation that in turn increases the risk of disease.
‘Considering that 50 percent of adults in this country have an unhealthy amount of abdominal fat, this is a disturbing finding,’ said Whitmer. ‘Research needs to be done to determine what the mechanisms are that link abdominal obesity and dementia.’
Around 417,000 people in the UK suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The condition, which tends to affect people over the age of 65, causes brain cells to die leading to confusion and memory loss. It is not clear what causes the condition but it is thought a combination of factors may be involved including genetic inheritance, diet and overall health.
‘This is an important piece of research but the results are not that surprising as a large stomach is associated with high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes - all major risk factors for dementia,’ commented Professor Clive Ballard, of the Alzheimer's Society. ‘We are learning more and more that what is good for your heart is also good for your brain.’
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