This is Why Visceral Fat Predicts Future Alzheimer’s Risk

The Hidden Danger That Can Lead to Dementia

While it has long been known that hidden visceral fat causes a host of health issues, from diabetes and metabolic disorders to an increased risk of cancer and heart disease, a recent study has discovered another reason why we should strive to minimize it as much as possible: a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Incredibly, these fat deposits may trigger a cascade of changes in the brain up to fifteen years before symptoms of the neurological condition appear. Researchers believe this is significant as it can help to set in motion early detection and interventions years before a problem arises.

The Research

For the cross-sectional study published by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), researchers examined data from 54 cognitively healthy participants between the ages of 40-60 years old with a body mass index (BMI) of 32.^1,2 Methods included glucose and insulin measurements, along with glucose tolerance tests. Both subcutaneous fat under the skin and visceral fat were measured using abdominal MRI. The participants also had their cortical thickness measured in the brain via MRI for regions that are typically impacted by Alzheimer’s. Lastly, PET scans were employed with a subset of 32 participants to examine amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain that are the hallmark of the disease.

What the team discovered is that a higher visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio is associated with higher amyloid plaques in the precuneus cortex, a region of the brain that is affected early on by the pathology of Alzheimer’s. These findings were more pronounced in men than in women. The researchers also found that higher levels of visceral fat caused more inflammation in the brain.²

Several pathways are suggested to play a role,” said study author Mahsa Dolatshahi, M.D., M.P.H., post-doctoral research fellow with Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Inflammatory secretions of visceral fat — as opposed to potentially protective effects of subcutaneous fat — may lead to inflammation in the brain, one of the main mechanisms contributing to Alzheimer’s disease.”

Moreover, Senior author Cyrus A. Raji, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiology and neurology, and director of neuromagnetic resonance imaging at MIR, notes these findings have significant implications for earlier diagnosis and intervention:

“This study highlights a key mechanism by which hidden fat can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. “It shows that such brain changes occur as early as age 50, on average — up to 15 years before the earliest memory loss symptoms of Alzheimer’s occur.”

He adds that these results may lead to targeted treatments to reduce visceral fat to modify the future risk of brain inflammation and dementia.

How to Reduce Visceral Fat for Improved Health Outcomes

Excess belly fat often indicates visceral fat surrounding the major organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and pancreas. However, even those who are slim can accumulate this dangerous hidden fat. Not only does it increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, but it is also associated with depression, poor sleep, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.

So, how can we avoid the health pitfalls linked with visceral fat? Research has shown that a higher protein diet helps to reduce the levels of abdominal fat — aim for about 25-30% of your daily calories from high-quality protein sources. These include wild-caught fish, free-range beef, chicken, nuts, wild game, nuts, and legumes.

Fiber is also helpful for balancing blood sugar levels and promoting a feeling of satiety, which in turn helps to decrease appetite and calorie consumption. Eating just 10 grams of soluble fiber per day has been shown to reduce abdominal fat by an impressive 3.7%.³ Good examples include oats, sweet potatoes, black beans, figs, avocados, carrots, nuts, and barley.

High-intensity aerobic exercise — such as running, swimming, and dancing — helps to reduce abdominal and visceral fat.³ Herbal remedies are also an outstanding ally, as we’ll explore below.

Brain-Boosting, Fat-Fighting Botanical Support

Since high blood glucose is linked with higher fat storage in the body — including belly and visceral fat — it is crucial to manage your blood sugar levels. My top herbal recommendations for this purpose include hawthorn, tulsi (holy basil), fenugreek, and bilberry. Not only do these botanicals help to regulate blood glucose, but they also reduce inflammation, lower LDL “bad” cholesterol, and maintain healthy blood pressure levels — all of which contribute to heart and brain health. This is why I have developed a potent Heart Health Blend that utilizes each of these powerful herbs.

For the ultimate in brain support, cordyceps, lion’s mane, and reishi medicinal mushrooms, along with lemon balm, are exceedingly helpful. Here’s why.

Cordyceps calms chronic inflammation and protects the brain against oxidative damage, while enhancing memory and learning as well. Lion’s mane is also anti-inflammatory, boosts cognitive function, and encourages nerve growth factor (NGF). Importantly, it has been shown to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.^4,5,6. Reishi helps to protect against brain fog, tames inflammation, and balances blood sugar levels. And lemon balm supports cognitive function, soothes ADHD symptoms, assists with dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s, and improves glucose metabolism.

Each of these powerful herbal extracts can be found in our Brain Bundle.

PART OF MY DAILY ROUTINE!

Since taking the Brain Bundle, I have more energy, have stayed healthy, and I am able to focus more at work. Any of Nicole’s tinctures are worth every penny. I am 100% these are amazing! Thank you, Nicole!” – Lacy

Are you ready to improve your cognitive health? Experience the healing power of nature by visiting my apothecary today!

Nicole Apelian

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References

1. Radiological Society of North America. “Hidden fat predicts Alzheimer’s 20 years ahead of symptoms.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 December 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241202124520.htm>.
2. “Hidden Belly Fat in Midlife Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease” RSNA Press Release, November 20, 2023. https://press.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/14_pr_target.cfm?id=2467
3. Hairston, K. G., Vitolins, M. Z., Norris, J. M., Anderson, A. M., Hanley, A. J., & Wagenknecht, L. E. (2012). Lifestyle factors and 5-year abdominal fat accumulation in a minority cohort: the IRAS Family Study. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 20(2), 421–427. 
4. Mori, K., Obara, Y., Moriya, T., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2011). Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice. Biomedical research (Tokyo, Japan), 32(1), 67–72. https://doi.org/10.2220/biomedres.32.67
5.  Tsai-Teng, T., Chin-Chu, C., Li-Ya, L., Wan-Ping, C., Chung-Kuang, L., Chien-Chang, S., Chi-Ying, H. F., Chien-Chih, C., & Shiao, Y. J. (2016). Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease-related pathologies in APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice. Journal of biomedical science, 23(1), 49. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-016-0266-z
6. Zhang, J., An, S., Hu, W., Teng, M., Wang, X., Qu, Y., Liu, Y., Yuan, Y., & Wang, D. (2016). The Neuroprotective Properties of Hericium erinaceus in Glutamate-Damaged Differentiated PC12 Cells and an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model. International journal of molecular sciences, 17(11), 1810. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17111810