New York (eCanadaNow) - Previous research has shown that having an apple-shaped body increases the risk of diabetes, stroke and heart disease, but this is the first time it has been linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s.
In the study, which was published Wednesday by the journal Neurology, people who were both obese and had a large belly were three times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia in later years than those of normal weight and belly size.
The risk of dementia nearly doubled in those who were a healthy weight but still had a bulging waist, suggesting that fat accumulated around the midline is particularly unhealthy for the brain.
"Considering that 50 per cent of adults in [the U.S.] have abdominal obesity, this is a disturbing finding," said study author Rachel Whitmer of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif.
"Where one carries the weight -- especially in midlife -- appears to be an important predictor for dementia risk," Whitmer said.
Researchers followed more than 6,000 adults for an average of 36 years to find the different risk factors for dementia.
