Obesity May Lead to Cognitive Decline That Mirrors Alzheimer's Disease; Can Weight Loss Make a Difference?

Scientists have discovered a striking correlation between those with obesity-associated neurodegeneration and patients of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Given this link, can weight loss make a difference in such a matter?

Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease and Obesity

According to SciTechDaily, previous studies have revealed the link of obesity with changes related to Alzheimer's Disease, including accumulation of amyloid-ß and cerebrovascular damage. While this has been previously examined, SciTechDaily reports that there is no current research that has directly compared the patterns of brain atrophy in obesity and AD.

Researchers of the study had a sample of more than 1,300 individuals. According to Neuroscience News, the specialists compared gray matter atrophy patterns across AD and obesity. They compared obese individuals with those who were non-obse, and AD patients with healthy controls. By doing so, they were able to create gray matter atrophy maps for each kind of group.

Obesity Could Lead to Neurodegeneration That Is Similar to Alzheimer's Disease

According to Science Daily, the researchers discovered that both AD and obesity impacted cortical thinning of gray matter in ways that are similar. Thinning of the left prefrontal cortex and right temporo-parietal cortex was similar across the two groups. Such cortical thinning could signify neurodegeneration. Hence, this discovery suggests that obesity may lead to cognitive decline that mirrors those with AD.

Obesity is a multisystem condition that affects various systems including one's cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory systems. This recent study, which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, shows how the condition leads to neurological implications as well. It also reveals how obesity could have a role in dementia and AD development.

Filip Morys, the study's first author and PhD researcher as the Neuro, expresses how their study strengthens existing literature regarding how obesity may be a key factor in AD. They have done so by revealing how cortical thinning could be a probable risk mechanism.

Morys notes how the findings stress that weight loss for the obese and overweight is important in order to decrease the risks of developing dementia or neurodegeneration.

Obesity Prevalence

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global obesity has almost tripled ever since 1975. In 2016, there were over 1.9 billion adults who were overweight, while more than 650 million of them were obese. In 2020, there were over 39 million children under five years old who were obese or overweight.

WHO also notes that the majority of the global population are from areas where being overweight and obesity kills individuals more than being underweight.

The condition primarily results from an imbalance of energy between calorie consumption and calorie expulsion. Nevertheless, being overweight and obese is something that can be prevented.

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