Everyone knows that having the typical "apple" shape where your belly is larger than your hips is worse for your health down the road. All that fat centered around your organs and hanging over your pants can lead to heart disease and blood sugar problems like insulin resistance and diabetes. But can it cause dementia as well? Researchers say "yes!"
In the March issue of Neurology, they found that total body weight is a strong predictor of dementia, conferring a 75% increased risk among those with the highest BMI! Eek!
They also found that individuals who were both obese and who had a large belly were 3.6 times more likely to develop dementia than those of normal weight and belly size.
The thing is, visceral fat (there in your belly) is actually quite active! It produces hormones and inflammatory markers AND is a storage place for toxins. Now they are finding it can really play havoc on your brain.
Dementia is the loss of mental skills that affects your daily life. It can cause problems with your memory and how you plan. According to Wikipedia, it's the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging.
Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia but stroke, tumors, head injuries, hypothyroidism and low Vitamin B12 can also be the cause.
If you find your memory isn't what it used to be, make an appointment with your doctor and start healthy habits that will get rid of that belly fat!
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