Study: Wider waist means smaller brain
The New Zealand Herald
People who carry too much weight around their middle have smaller brains, scientists have found.
The study measured the BMI and waist-to-hip ratio of 9652 people, then used MRI to determine brain volumes for white and grey brain matter. Grey matter contains most of the brain’s nerve cells and includes brain regions involved in self-control and sensory perception.
Those who had a high BMI and held the fat around their stomach had the lowest average grey matter brain volume of 786 cubic cm, compared with people of healthy weight who had an average grey matter brain volume of 798 cubic cm.
One hypothesis is that fatty tissue around the middle triggers inflammation in the body which disrupts the circulatory system, perhaps making it more difficult to clear deposits in the brain that can damage cells.
Hamer said the findings supported evidence that maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet could lower the risk of developing dementia. The research was published in the journal Neurology.—Telegraph Group Ltd