Obesity and brain vulnerability in normal and abnormal aging: a multimodal MRI study

Overview

Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for many chronic inflammatory diseases. Recently, evidence has emerged to suggest that obesity also increases the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, the evidence remains inconclusive, with controversy over the impact of obesity on the brain at different life stages. Nonetheless, it is known that obesity can cause neuroinflammation, blood brain barrier breakdown and oxidative stress.

This study investigated the relationship between obesity and MRI neurological changes in Three groups of obese patients: 1) cognitively healthy, 2) patients with mild cognitive impairment and 3) with mild Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The results showed diminished cerebral blood flow, and structural and cognitive changes in all 3 groups with the AD group the worst. Perhaps obesity itself can progressively undermine cognitive skills to cause AD.

Our Response

Increasing evidence is showing the importance of health status in brain-related disorders. This study highlights that diseases like Alzheimer’s are not just a matter of ageing, but are affected by environmental factors, placing huge emphasis on the importance of nutrition in preserving brain health.