(26-09-12) Obesity accelerates cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease progression

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) As obesity rates continue to soar among all age groups in the U.
S. and most other countries, the incidence of chronic diseases spawned by
excess abdominal fat follows on a parallel course. Medical scientists have
repeatedly confirmed that risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and
dementia increases in direct relation to overweight and obesity measures. A
widely accepted falsehood is that mental decline is a natural part of the aging
process. Researchers now posit that expanding waistlines are the primary cause
of mental deterioration among the middle-aged and senior populations.

A study team from the French research institute INSERM in Paris has published
the result of a study in the prestigious journal, Neurology that demonstrates
how increased blood pressure and other metabolic factors resulting from excess
body weight causes middle-aged and older adults to experience a rapid decline
in cognitive skills like thinking and memory. Small increase in biomarkers such
as blood pressure and blood glucose result in dramatically increased risk for
many morbid illnesses, especially dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

To conduct their study, researchers analyzed data on 6,400 participants, 71
percent of whom were men with an average age 50. The study period began in
1991, defined as the start of the 10-year study time frame. At the outset, the
study team gathered data on the participants' metabolic status and body mass
index (BMI), a well-known measure of overweight and obesity. At three defined
points over the study period, the participants were administered tests to
assess cognitive skills such as memory, reasoning, and verbal fluency.

Improving abnormal biomarkers and losing weight lowers risk of cognitive
decline by one-quarter
In addition to recording changes in BMI, the scientists also noted alterations
in metabolic factors such as blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, blood sugar and
triglycerides. High-range readings in two or more of these categories fell into
the classification of 'metabolic abnormalities,' known risk factors for many
conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia. Initial
readings showed that 31 percent of the participants fell into the metabolically
abnormal class, nine percent were obese, and 38 percent were overweight.

After 10 years, the team found that participants who were both obese and
metabolically abnormal showed a 22.5 percent faster decline in memory and
thinking skills than participants of normal weight and no metabolic
abnormality. The lead study author concluded "In these analyses, the fastest
cognitive decline was observed in those with both obesity and metabolic
abnormality."

It's not difficult for most health-minded people to understand that high blood
pressure and blood glucose, abnormal cholesterol and triglycerides and obesity
combine to create a 'perfect storm' of potentially lethal health concerns. This
research forms the basis for extending the negative effects of these biomarkers
on the brain, as they increase the risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's
disease by nearly one-quarter. Monitor and correct abnormal biomarkers by using
any a number of natural nutrients and effective supplements, and lower body
weight to within an accepted BMI range (25 or under to no more than 30) to
significantly lower risk of cognitive decline during aging.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.neurology.org/content/79/8/755
http://www.medicaldaily.com
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249241.php

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