Is it more nerve-wracking to be a "puff man"? Research by nearly 10,000 people reveals that excessive body fat may affect cognitive ability
Might the brain function of the “puff people” group who appear slim but have too much body fat be more susceptible to damage? Many studies have confirmed that systemic obesity will affect cardiovascular function and increase the chances of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and chronic inflammation. High body fat is one of the risk factors for obesity. A recent study published in “JAMA Network” analyzed brain cross-sections of subjects and found that people with excessive body fat have an increased chance of brain damage, and their cognitive functions and memory show a significant downward trend.
Does excessive body fat affect “brain function”? Study: Memory and cognitive abilities significantly declined
McMaster University in Canada recruited 9,166 subjects, with an average age of about 58 years old. They underwent “bioelectrical impedance analysis” to measure body fat index. In addition, the research team used MRI tomography to evaluate the subjects’ cerebral blood flow to further confirm whether they had “vascular brain injury.”
After comparing data, the research team found that subjects with higher body fat not only had higher cardiovascular risks, but were also more likely to experience brain damage than healthy people. The subjects’ body fat rate increased by 9.2%, and their cognitive scores dropped by an average of 8 points, which is equivalent to “one year of aging” in cognitive function. Compared with subjects with lower body fat percentages, subjects with high body fat percentages were likely to have aging cognitive function by up to 3 years.
The study revealed that the main items of cognitive scoring are transaction processing speed, visual responsiveness, attention and working memory. Obesity problems caused by excessive body fat may lead to lower cognitive scores, indicating that obesity may not only affect cardiovascular disease, but may also affect the brain, resulting in decreased memory and reaction ability.
Does high body fat not only affect cardiovascular disease? Causes brain inflammation to worsen “5 abilities”
Study author Sonia Anand pointed out that the results of the study indicate that reducing excess body fat may play a role in preventing cognitive decline and reducing the risk of brain damage. She said that even if the subjects’ chronic diseases or cardiovascular problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are excluded, the impact of excessive body fat on the brain still exists.
Co-author Eric Smith said that a previous analysis of the brains of 15,000 subjects in the British Biobank found that the link between obesity and reduced cognitive function is that excess fat causes damage to brain capillaries and causes brain inflammation. reaction. Severe brain inflammation is associated with poorer spatial reasoning, short-term memory, learning, language, and executive function. Smith also pointed out that people with lower gray matter in their brains are more likely to experience brain inflammation.
“Excessive body fat is a risk factor for cognitive decline, and strategies to reduce body fat and prevent obesity may protect cognitive function in adults. Therefore, regardless of age, weight loss can be achieved through exercise or a balanced diet , are all very important,” Smith said.
source:
Evaluation of Adiposity and Cognitive Function in Adults
Higher body fat in adults linked to risk of reduced cognitive function
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