New Research Suggests That Having A “Dad Bod” May Be Linked To A Higher Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease
The term “dad bod” first emerged in 2015, and ever since then, this in-between physique that’s relatively slim but not quite toned has gained popularity on social media. According to one survey conducted by Advert Dermatology, 70% of women even admitted to being fans of this more realistic body shape.
However, is it possible that having a “dad bod” may be a risk factor for dementia?
Middle age often brings extra weight around the midsection, and a recent study conducted by researchers at Rutgers University suggests this might spell trouble for men’s cognitive health.
The research indicates that belly fat has a more significant impact on brain function and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease for high-risk middle-aged men when compared to women.
The researchers noted that in middle-aged people who have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, the amount of fat around abdominal organs like the pancreas, stomach, and liver seems to be linked with brain size and cognitive abilities.
The study involved 204 healthy middle-aged individuals with a family history of Alzheimer’s, and the focus was on examining fat accumulation in the liver, pancreas, and abdominal area, with the researchers measuring these fat levels using MRI scans.
“In middle-aged males at high Alzheimer’s disease risk– but not females– higher pancreatic fat was associated with lower cognition and brain volumes, suggesting a potential [gender-specific] link between distinct abdominal fat with brain health,” explained Michal Schnaider Beeri, Rutgers Brain Health Institute’s Krieger Klein Endowed Chair in Neurodegeneration Research.
Obesity is currently recognized as a contributing factor to decreased cognitive function and an increased risk of dementia. However, the exact relationships vary between men and women.
The latest research underscores the need for further research into how different fat stores, brain aging, and cognitive abilities are interconnected, particularly considering the differences between genders.
New Africa – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Additionally, the research team pointed out that their study questions the traditional reliance on body mass index– or BMI– as the main or definitive method for evaluating cognitive risks linked to obesity.
They argued that BMI is not an accurate indicator of how body fat is distributed and fails to adequately consider differences between genders.
“Our findings indicate stronger correlations compared to the relationships between BMI and cognition, suggesting that abdominal fat depots, rather than BMI, is a risk factor for lower cognitive functioning and higher dementia risk,” concluded Sapir Golan Shekhtman, one of the study’s authors.
Now, the team behind this research suggests that their findings will pave the way for various new opportunities to create tailored interventions.
They also highlighted the importance of exploring approaches specific to each gender in understanding and reducing the impact of abdominal fat on brain health.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in the journal Obesity, visit the link here.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Science
