Diet Time? Higher Levels of Body Fat May Contribute Higher Risk of Dementia

Do you need another reason to lose weight and be more active? According to McMaster University researchers, higher body fat percentages have been linked to cognitive decline, poorer mental processing, and memory problems.

According to the research, lower cognitive scores were inextricably linked to body fat. Even after the research team accounted for cardiovascular risk factors, like diabetes or hypertension, and vascular brain injuries, the result stayed consistent.

Dr. Sonia Anand, a professor of medicine at McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, said the results suggest that strategies to prevent or reduce body fat may preserve cognitive function.

The effect of increased body fat persisted even after adjusting for its effect on increasing cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as vascular brain injury, which should prompt researchers to investigate which other pathways may link excess fat to reduced cognitive function.

The study's co-author Dr. Eric Smith, a neurologist, scientist, and associate professor of clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary, said that one of the best ways to prevent dementia in old age is to preserve cognitive function.

This study suggests that one of the ways that good nutrition and physical activity prevent dementia may be by maintaining healthy weight and body fat percentage.

The research participants were aged 30 to 75, with an average age of about 58. About 56% were women; they all lived in either Canada or Poland. The majority were of White European origin, with about 16% of other ethnic backgrounds. Individuals with known cardiovascular disease were excluded.

Fat and Health Issues Long Linked

Researchers have long established that having extra fat surrounding our organs raises our risk of developing metabolic illnesses, such as:

• Diabetes
• Fatty liver disease
• Heart disease and elevated cholesterol
• Polycystic ovary syndrome 

With research that seems to link dementia and body fat, extra effort should be made to eat a better diet, exercise, and lose weight. Cleveland Clinic psychologist and registered dietitian David Creel, Ph.D., suggests building a cardio routine of at least 150 minutes per week while adding two to three days per week of whole-body strength training.

Any added muscle will increase our calorie burn at rest, whereas cardiovascular exercise will give our metabolism a boost during and for a short time after exercise. Exercise may also have indirect positive benefits on weight by helping us sleep better and manage emotional eating.

Experts say that as you age, you start losing muscle and gain excess body fat due to a shift in your hormones and lack of physical activity. Diet and exercise will help with overall health as you get older.

Act Before Retirement to Be Proactive with Health and Finances

Better overall health in your 40s and 50s will benefit you in your 60s and 70s, improving your quality of life, delaying the need for long-term health and care, and perhaps reducing your risk of dementia.

With long-term health care costs increasing, delaying the need for care will help you maintain more independence and reduce the financial risk and burden on your family.

While planning for the consequences of future long-term care remains vital for retirement planning, you will maintain a better quality of life even once you start needing care.

Experts suggest being proactive with health and financial planning before age 60 to make it easier for you and your family. Things like regular check-ups and lab work, financial planning, including Long-Term Care Insurance, and a discussion with your family and aging will reduce the stress and anxiety for everyone in the family.