Key points from article :
Researchers have identified a potential early indicator of Alzheimer's disease, revealing that excess visceral fat—fat that accumulates around internal organs—could predict the development of the disease up to 20 years before symptoms appear. This fat is distinct from subcutaneous fat, which is located just under the skin. The study, led by Dr. Mahsa Dolatshani at Washington University School of Medicine, focused on middle-aged adults, particularly in their 40s and 50s, when Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain are just beginning. The researchers discovered a link between higher levels of visceral fat and increased accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, two key abnormal proteins associated with Alzheimer's.
The study examined 80 cognitively healthy participants, most of whom were women and more than half were obese. Using MRI and PET scans, the researchers assessed both the participants' visceral fat and the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain. They found that those with more visceral fat had higher levels of amyloid accumulation, which is often a precursor to Alzheimer's symptoms. Furthermore, the study found connections between insulin resistance, low good cholesterol, and higher amyloid levels, but the effects of visceral fat were somewhat reduced in individuals with better metabolic health.
These findings suggest that targeting visceral fat through lifestyle changes such as weight loss could help delay or prevent Alzheimer’s, especially in midlife when interventions are more effective. With nearly 7 million Americans over the age of 65 already living with Alzheimer’s, this research offers hope for identifying at-risk individuals much earlier, potentially altering the course of the disease before symptoms even appear.
