Your Brain Hates Body Fat

Want proof that your brain and excess body fat don’t get along? Look no further than this new study that links adipose tissue (body fat) with cognitive dysfunction, even at younger ages. Among more than 9,000 adults ages 30-75, “generalized and visceral adiposity were associated with reduced cognitive scores, after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, educational level, and vascular brain injury.”

Researchers measured body-fat percentage and visceral adipose tissue volume in each participant; and evaluated cognitive function via two tests: the Digital Symbol Substitution Test (133-point scale, with lower scores indicating lower cognitive function) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (0-30 scale, with a score below 26 indicating cognitive dysfunction). Increasing body-fat percentage or VAT (each 1-standard deviation increase) was associated with a 0.8-point reduction in DSST score.

It’s important to note that as the researchers stated, these findings (which appear in JAMA Network Open) were maintained even after adjusting for variables other than body fat that has been linked to lower cognitive test scores, namely cardiovascular disease, educational level, and vascular brain injury. This verifies that their findings were not due to one or more of these risk factors.

Everyone worries about staying healthy, mentally and physically, as we age. Clearly, the two are connected. (In fact, just last issue we reported on another study suggesting heart health and brain health are intertwined.) If you’re struggling with your weight, talk to your doctor about safe, step-by-step ways to lose the weight, and keep your body and brain healthy for a lifetime.