Men can reduce their risk of dementia by almost 40 percent through ditching the beer belly and maintaining a balanced body mass.
A new Melbourne Monash University study found men with high levels of belly fat were at increased risk of the cognitive disease.
Professor Joanne Ryan said the research, which involved more than 17,000 individuals aged 65 to 98 years, also found the risk for dementia was up to 38 percent lower in those with higher lean body mass and, perhaps surprisingly, more fat body mass.
“Higher lean body mass and fat body mass in later life may be associated with better cognition, while abdominal fat could be a risk factor, particularly in men,” Professor Ryan said.
She said excess body weight, especially in midlife, is considered a risk factor for numerous health conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which in turn were risk factors for dementia and cancer.
“Our findings suggest that increased body weight in older age may confer protective effects on brain aging, regardless of body composition.
“However, abdominal adiposity may still be a risk factor for cognitive impairment in older individuals, particularly in men,” Professor Ryan said.
“These findings suggest that avoiding excess fat accumulation in the abdominal area and maintaining a balance between lean and fat mass may be beneficial to cognitive function in older age.
“Lifestyle strategies, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, likely play a role in protecting brain health for older individuals.”
Read full paper: Associations of abdominal adiposity, lean body mass, and fat body mass with dementia and cognitive change in older age.
