Obesity Supercharges Alzheimer's Risk?
By Editorial Staff
Carrying extra body weight might not only be linked with higher Alzheimer's risk – it may actually speed up the disease's biological progression.
In a recent study, researchers tracked adults over about five years, analyzing their blood for specific Alzheimer's-related proteins and comparing results to brain imaging scans. They discovered that obese people showed much steeper increases in Alzheimer's-related blood markers than people with healthier weights, signaling a faster-moving disease process.
Despite the findings, the study reinforces a hopeful message: Obesity is a changeable risk factor. While the research does not prove that weight loss can prevent Alzheimer's, it supports the idea that improving metabolic health through diet, physical activity and weight management may help slow harmful brain-related changes.
Researchers say future studies combining blood tests with imaging could improve early detection and help determine whether lifestyle interventions or treatments can meaningfully alter the course of Alzheimer's disease.
Source: Research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI).
