ISLAMABAD, APRIL 08 (ONLINE): Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and several types of cancer.New research suggests that it may also accelerate brain aging.
\nThe researchers found that obesity and a high fat diet damaged blood vessels in the brains of mice, reducing oxygen supply to brain cells and leading to cognitive decline.<\/p>\n
Obesity is a growing public health concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source, in 2022, 16% of people around the world had obesity.Prevalence in the United States is much higher, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source reporting that in 2020, 41.9% of people were living with obesity.<\/p>\n
The condition is a growing concern in younger people \u2014 the WHO reports that 160 million children and adolescents around the world were living with obesity in 2022.A person with overweight has an increased risk of health problems, and these risks are greater the more overweight a person is. Obesity increases the risk of many health conditionsTrusted Source, including:<\/p>\n
cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke)
\ntype 2 diabetes
\nmusculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis
\nsome cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
\nA new study, to be presented at the American Physiology Summit April 4\u20137 in Long Beach, CA, and the results of which are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, suggests that obesity may also accelerate brain aging and lead to cognitive decline.<\/p>\n
Lead study author Dr. Sharon Negri, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, told Medical News Today:<\/p>\n
\u201cDiet-induced obesity is known to trigger a range of systemic inflammatory responses that can have widespread effects on the body, including the cerebrovasculature. One primary reason obesity might induce senescence in the cerebrovasculature is due to the chronic inflammatory state it creates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Obesity damages blood vessels in the brain
\nStudiesTrusted Source suggest that obesity is associated with reduced brain function. The exact mechanism is not known, but inflammationTrusted Source \u2014 which is a known effect of obesityTrusted Source \u2014 may affect cognitive function.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdipose tissue in obese individuals secretes various bioactive molecules, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can circulate and affect distant organs, including the brain,\u201d Dr. Negri explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese inflammatory signals can contribute to vascular cells aging, facilitating the development of senescence in the brain, thus impairing the vessels\u2019 ability to regulate blood flow and respond to neural activity,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Several studiesTrusted Source show that people with obesity or a high body mass index (BMI)Trusted Source have reduced cerebral blood flow, which may be associatedTrusted Source with impaired cognitive function, particularly in older people.<\/p>\n
In this latest study, the researchers looked at how obesity and a high fat diet affected the brain blood vessels in mice and what effect this had on cognitive function.<\/p>\n
They fed novel transgenic mice (p16-3MR mice, in which senescent cells can be visualized and selectively eliminated) on a diet containing 60% fat or a 10% fat diet.<\/p>\n
In the mice on the high fat diet, the researchers saw an increase in senescenceTrusted Source (where cells stop dividingTrusted Source but do not die, releasing chemicals that may cause inflammation) of endothelial cells in the blood vessels, compared with the mice on the regular diet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe findings in the present animal study indicate that obesity and unhealthy dietary habits contribute to the accumulation of damage in blood vessels, which diminishes oxygen delivery to specific brain regions and may culminate in cognitive deterioration,\u201d Kelsey Costa, a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Dietitian Insights, who was not involved in the study, told MNT.<\/p>\n
High-fat diet leads to cognitive impairment
\nThe high fat diet increased the number of senescent endothelial cells in mice and also showed impaired cognitive function measured on the radial arm water maze test (RAWM).<\/p>\n
To investigate the significance of these senescent cells, researchers treated older mice with obesity on a high fat diet with Navitoclax\/ABT263, which selectively kills these cells. Following treatment, the mice showed improved cognitive function.<\/p>\n
\u201cObesity-related inflammation may contribute to vascular dysfunction, potentially affecting cognitive processes, Sebnem \u00dcnl\u00fcisler, a genetic engineer at the London Regenerative Institute, who was not involved in the study, told MNT.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though the research was conducted on mice, it gives us useful hints about what could happen in people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exciting that removing senescent cells improved the brains of obese mice, suggesting a way to help with obesity-related brain problems. Eliminating senescent cells in the brains of obese mice using Navitoclax seemed to improve brain vasculature, which could be a good way to deal with obesity-related cognitive decline.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Sebnem \u00dcnl\u00fcisler, genetic engineer<\/p>\n
\u201cOur research, along with studies from other groups, has demonstrated that strategies designed to eliminate senescent cells can significantly reverse or prevent the cognitive decline associated with aging,\u201d Negri said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis promising discovery, however, does not mean we advocate for the use of Navitoclax by healthy elderly individuals as a direct therapeutic measure,\u201d she cautioned.<\/p>\n
\u00dcnl\u00fcisler agreed that more evidence was needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther research into the molecular mechanisms involved and assessing Navitoclax\u2019s safety and efficacy in human cognitive function would be enlightening,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Maintaining a healthy weight may preserve cognitive function
\nNegri advised that maintaining a healthy weight or, for those with obesity, losing weight helps prevent cerebrovascular and cognitive changes in older age.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur primary objective is to delve into the specific role that senescent cells play both in the natural aging process and in relation to obesity. By focusing on these areas, we aim to uncover the fundamental mechanisms by which aging affects our bodies and minds. Ultimately, our research seeks to pave the way for developing targeted, effective strategies that not only improve the aging process but also significantly enhance the overall quality of life in our later years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Sharon Negri, lead study author<\/p>\n
\u201cLosing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can [\u2026] reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are implicated in cerebrovascular damage and cognitive decline. Additionally, a healthy weight supports good physical health, which is closely linked to brain health,\u201d said Negri.<\/p>\n
Costa echoed this advice:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile more clinical research is needed, this is far from the first study to suggest that weight and nutrition directly affect brain health,\u201d she noted. \u201cTherefore, maintaining a healthy weight through proper diet and exercise may be essential in preserving vascular health and cognitive function as we age.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile regular physical activity and an overall healthy dietary pattern are key, some specific foods and nutrients are being studied for their positive impacts on vascular health. A few of these include blueberries, plums, beetroot, pomegranate juice, and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, nuts, and seeds. These foods have been shown to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Kelsey Costa, registered dietitian<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, APRIL 08 (ONLINE): Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and several types of cancer.New research suggests that it may also accelerate brain aging. The researchers found that obesity and a high fat diet damaged […]<\/p>\n
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