If you want to stay mentally sharp as you age, hitting the gym might be a great idea. Recent research suggests that some hidden traits in your body could be key to keeping your brain young. This is significant because better brain health can lower the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Cyrus Raji, a neuroimaging scientist, explains that a healthier brain reduces the chances of developing conditions such as Alzheimer’s. His team studied 1,164 healthy adults, averaging 55 years old, using whole-body MRI scans. These advanced machines show detailed images of muscle, brain tissue, and two types of fat: subcutaneous (under the skin) and visceral (around organs).
Using AI, the researchers measured muscle and fat volumes to estimate each person’s “brain age.” This figure reflects how old the brain seems based on its internal structure. A brain that appears older may signal accelerated aging, while a younger-looking brain often indicates better health.
Finding the balance between muscle and hidden belly fat was crucial. Those with more muscle typically had younger-looking brains, while those with higher visceral fat had brains that appeared older. It’s interesting to note that fat under the skin didn’t seem to have the same impact.
Dr. Raji suggests that focusing on building muscle and lowering visceral fat may help support brain health. He believes that this connection between body composition and brain health can guide future medical trials and interventions.
One area of interest is GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, which many are using for weight loss. These drugs mimic hormones that control blood sugar and appetite, making people feel full longer. They’ve recently risen in popularity, with nearly 12% of Americans trying them out.
Pills like these can help patients lose 15% to 25% of their body weight. However, studies show that around 40% of this weight loss can come from lean mass, including muscle. Losing muscle could harm the muscle-to-visceral-fat ratio, potentially affecting brain aging.
Dr. Raji thinks this study’s insights might pave the way for better GLP-1s that target visceral fat while preserving muscle. He emphasizes that maintaining muscle while losing fat, especially visceral fat, could greatly benefit brain health.
Overall, this research not only sheds light on body composition’s role in brain aging but also represents the potential for new treatments that focus on both physical and mental well-being.
Source link
Health,aging,alzheimer’s disease,brains,ozempic,study says
