Health
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s risk is higher for people with body fat in two specific areas
Excess fat in certain areas of the human body could make people more prone to neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, a new study suggests.
The study, published in the journal Neurology — the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology — linked higher levels of body fat in the arms and belly with a greater chance of developing these conditions.
In another key finding, people who have more muscle strength were at lower risk of developing these diseases.
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“Overall, the key takeaway message from our study finding is that body composition and cardiovascular diseases may be potential targets for preventing neurodegenerative diseases,” said lead study author Shishi Xu, a clinician in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The study group that had higher levels of belly fat had a 13% greater chance of developing neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s compared to those with lower levels, the researchers found.
Excess fat in certain areas of the body could make people more prone to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, a new study suggests. (iStock)
Participants with higher levels of arm fat had an 18% higher risk.
Those with high muscle strength were 26% less likely to develop these types of diseases than those with low levels of strength, according to Xu.
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Cardiovascular disease risk plays a role, too, she said.
“If you are exposed to adverse body composition patterns, such as belly fat, you will have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which significantly increases your risk of future neurodegenerative diseases,” Xu said.
Higher levels of body fat in the arms and belly were linked to a greater chance of developing neurological conditions. (iStock)
“On contrast, actively preventing CVDs at an early stage after exposure to adverse body composition patterns may decrease your future risk of neurodegenerative diseases by 10.7% to 35.3%.”
Dr. James Galvin, director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the University of Miami Health System, was not involved in the study, but said the findings did not surprise him.
“Body composition and cardiovascular diseases may be potential targets for preventing neurodegenerative diseases.”
“This is consistent with a body of literature suggesting a bidirectional relationship between brain and body,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Loss of muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia) and increase in body fat, particularly visceral fat, are risk factors for cognitive impairment.”
Potential limitations
In observational studies like this one, it can be tough to distinguish between correlation or causation, Xu said.
“Although we have made significant efforts in this study to approach a causal relationship, we acknowledge that residual reverse causation may still bias our findings,” she told Fox News Digital.
Taking steps to achieve healthier body composition may be more effective for preventing neurological diseases than general weight control, researchers said. (iStock)
Although the study suggests that body composition and cardiovascular diseases may be potential targets for preventing neurodegenerative diseases, Xu noted that more evidence is needed to confirm that these are causal risk factors.
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Galvin noted that another major limitation of the study was the lack of diversity in the sample.
“This is unfortunate, as obesity is an important risk factor in many minoritized populations, and our own research has demonstrated that physical frailty is an important mediator of cognitive decline in African American older adults,” he said.
Recommended lifestyle changes
Based on the findings, the researchers said, taking steps to achieve healthier body composition — such as reducing belly and arm fat while promoting healthy muscle development — may be more effective for preventing neurological diseases than general weight control.
“Lifestyle modifications like engaging in resistance training, reducing sedentary behavior and adhering to a balanced diet can be effective in reducing abdominal fat as well as enhancing muscle strength, which may potentially offer greater neuroprotective benefits than weight-focused anti-obesity medications,” Xu said.
The researchers also stated that early management of cardiovascular diseases may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
The quality or distribution of muscle and fat, rather than the absolute weight, may be more important for your health, according to researchers. (iStock)
The quality or distribution of muscle and fat, rather than the absolute weight, may be more important for your health, according to Xu.
“In recent years, due to the widespread use and even abuse of weight-loss drugs, people have become overly concerned with overall weight and often overlook the key role of different body components,” she said.
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Muscle strength is often overlooked, the researcher noted.
“Our current study findings highlight that enhancing muscle strength is important and may potentially offer neuroprotective benefits,” she said.
“Our current study findings highlight that enhancing muscle strength is important and may potentially offer neuroprotective benefits,” the researcher said. (iStock)
“Therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enhancing your muscle strength are crucial.”
Galvin agreed, recommending that people should focus on reducing body fat while maintaining skeletal muscle by adding resistance and flexibility training and changing nutrition patterns.
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Added the doctor, “As we learn more about the impact of lifestyle on brain health and risk of disease, it is increasingly evident that there are many ways to build a better brain as we age.”
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After a season of bingeing and drinking, your body may feel like it needs a break from the party.
Dry January — a modern trend that challenges people to abstain from drinking for the first month of the year — has become a popular way to “detox” from the holidays and start the new year on a healthy note.
Research has linked alcohol to a variety of health conditions, ranging from hangovers to higher cancer risk.
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In a recent podcast episode of “The Dr. Mark Hyman Show,” Dr. Mark Hyman, chief medical officer of Function Health, shared how 30 days of not drinking alcohol can transform health.
Hyman, who is based in Massachusetts, called Dry January a “powerful way to see in real time how alcohol affects nearly every system of your body and how quickly those systems can recover.”
Dry January has become a popular way to “detox” from the holidays and start the new year on a healthy note. (iStock)
Alcohol’s toll on the brain and body
Hyman acknowledged that most people drink to feel happier and more comfortable in social situations. This effect is caused by the main ingredient in alcohol, called ethanol, which can also have toxic effects.
Instead of stimulating the brain, alcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions. “You feel more relaxed, more social, more confident, maybe you feel a little euphoric,” Hyman said.
Alcohol’s effect on the brain can also lead to poorer decisions and slower reflexes, the doctor cautioned.
Drinking alcohol can cause cognitive decline and brain fog, experts warn. (iStock)
Drinking also impacts the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which Hyman described as “the adult in the room,” responsible for judgment, planning and restraint. “It goes offline early in drinking, which explains why people feel freer or act impulsively when they drink,” he said.
Even moderate drinking can cause metabolic stress, inflammation, impaired detoxification and hormonal shifts, Hyman said, which can impact nearly every organ system in the body.
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Alcohol consumption has also been linked to an increased risk of cancer, metabolic dysfunction, gut microbiome disturbances and mitochondrial toxins.
It can also prevent the body from falling into REM sleep, which is the deep rest recovery period when the immune system cleans out the day’s toxins, according to Hyman.
Alcohol can impact deep rest and mental health, according to experts. (iStock)
Memory loss, cognitive decline, anxiety, sleep disruption, dementia and cardiovascular disease are all known risks of long-term alcohol use, as well as liver complications like fatty liver disease.
“Bottom line, alcohol taxes every major system in your body, especially your liver, your brain, your gut, your hormones,” Hyman said.
The effects of 30 days with no alcohol
The first week after your last drink, the body begins to detoxify and reset, according to Hyman. Blood sugar and cortisol stress hormones level out, and the liver begins to process a “backlog of toxins.” The body also re-hydrates and re-energizes.
The first 30 days with no alcohol allows the body to balance itself out. (iStock)
The second week, the gut and brain will begin to re-balance, as hormones like serotonin and dopamine stabilize, gut inflammation drops and the microbiome begins to heal. Cravings for sugar and alcohol will wane and mental clarity returns, the doctor said.
Week three is marked by further decreases in inflammation, fatty liver and blood pressure. This can be noticeable in the skin, as puffiness and redness are reduced. Mood also begins to stabilize, with lower anxiety levels.
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In week four, the body experiences additional metabolic and immune benefits, Hyman shared, including more insulin sensitivity, which makes it easier to lose weight.
“You have a stronger immune response. You’re not getting sick as much. You have better deep sleep, balanced hormones, especially cortisol and testosterone,” he said. “And you see a big change in energy, confidence and focus.”
Abstaining from alcohol can help restore energy, according to experts. (iStock)
Dr. Pinchieh Chiang, a clinician at Circle Medical in San Francisco, said that Dry January isn’t a “detox,” but rather provides “feedback” from the body.
“It gives the body time to show people how it feels without alcohol. For many, that insight alone changes their relationship with drinking,” she said. “The biggest surprise isn’t what people give up, it’s how much better they feel.”
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The doctor confirmed that the first few days of not drinking may feel harder than expected, sometimes causing restlessness, cravings or disrupted sleep, but Dry January can ultimately change drinking habits for the remainder of the year.
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After a full year without alcohol, Chiang noted that health improvements are more profound. “We see sustained improvements in blood pressure, liver function and inflammation,” she said. “Those changes directly affect long-term heart disease and stroke risk.”
The risks of ‘all or nothing’
Some experts warn that adopting the Dry January trend could strengthen the urge to drink more in the other months, noting that some drinkers may find more success by slowly consuming fewer drinks per week.
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Thomas Stopka, Ph.D., an epidemiologist and professor in the public health and community medicine department at Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts, shared in a Futurity report that for some people, “damp January” may be more suitable.
One expert warned that not all drinkers should quit “cold turkey,” as it could lead to severe withdrawals. (iStock)
“Dry January is well-intentioned, and it may work really well for the people who can stick to it, maybe even beyond January,” he said. “Other people may be more inclined to cut down on alcohol consumption rather than quit drinking completely for the month.”
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Stopka noted that successful harm-reduction approaches “aim to be judgment free.”
“Substance use disorder is a disease,” he said. “It takes time to treat the disease and to stay connected to the continuum of care — from prevention to treatment initiation to sustained therapy, whether through medication, self-help, or individual therapy or group support.”
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Those struggling with signs of alcohol use disorder should consult a medical professional for personalized guidance.
Fox News Digital reached out to several alcohol industry associations requesting comment.
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