🧠 Visceral Abdominal Fat and Brain Volume Loss

Carrying excess abdominal fat, especially the kind wrapped around your organs, may speed up brain aging, even in middle age.

Published In: Aging and Disease
Date: August 2024
Authors: Raji et al.
Link to Study: Read the Study

Summary

This study examined over 10,000 healthy adults using advanced MRI and deep learning to measure both brain and abdominal fat volumes. Researchers found that higher levels of visceral fat (fat stored around internal organs) are strongly linked to lower brain volumes, including regions vital for memory and cognitive function. Notably, this brain shrinkage was already evident in people as young as their 30s and 40s, with women showing more pronounced effects than men. Subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin) also contributed to brain volume loss, although to a slightly greater extent than visceral fat.

Key Takeaways

✅ Visceral fat is linked to smaller total brain volume, including gray and white matter
✅ Brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s, like the hippocampus and temporal lobes, are affected
✅ Women with high visceral fat showed more brain shrinkage than men
✅ Subcutaneous fat also predicts brain volume loss, possibly due to systemic inflammation
✅ Brain volume loss from fat is seen across all age groups—even in midlife

Why It Matters for You

Keeping abdominal fat in check isn’t just about heart health, it may protect your brain as well. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce visceral and subcutaneous fat, potentially preserving brain volume and lowering dementia risk.

Citation

Raji, C.A., et al. (2024). Visceral and Subcutaneous Abdominal Fat Predict Brain Volume Loss at Midlife in 10,001 Individuals. Aging and Disease, 15(4), 1831–1842. http://dx.doi.org/10.14336/AD.2023.0820