Abdominal fat raises dementia risk

Having abdominal fat during middle-age appears to increase the later-life risk of dementia.Previous studies have revealed the association of abdominal fat with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes but no study has evaluated whether the same pattern exists with dementia. Researchers from America investigated the association between a midlife paunch and the risk of dementia in later life. They assessed the weight, waist measurement and other factors in 6583 men and women. Participants were followed up again after 36 years. The data regarding age, gender, race, education, marital status, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease and medical utilisation were collected by the investigators. Over 36 years of follow-up, 1049 men and women developed dementia. Comparing the subjects with least of amount of body fat, it was found that those with the highest level of abdominal fat had nearly a 3 times higher risk of dementia. Over-weight and obesity combined with high levels of abdominal fat, raised the risk of dementia by two and four-times respectively; whereas, overweight and obesity combined with low abdominal fat carried about 2 times higher risk of dementia (a risk level slightly lower than that identified among participants of normal weight and high abdominal fat).The findings revealed the harmful effects of a paunch impacts both normal and overweight individuals. The investigators concluded that abdominal fat contributes to age related decline.

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