Photo: GSO Images/Getty Images
<p>According to a <a href="https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad220535" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new study</a>, obesity can cause changes within the <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/actress-anne-heche-reportedly-brain-dead-not-expected-to-survive-car-crash-where-cocaine-fentanyl-were-found-in-her-system/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brain</a> that are comparable to symptoms seen in cases of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Troubling Link Was Uncovered In A Study Of 1,300+ People</h3>
<p>Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute (affiliated with McGill University) conducted the research, and the findings were just published in the <em>Journal of Alzheimer&#8217;s D</em><i>isease.</i></p>
<p>Upon analyzing brain scans from over 1,300 people, researchers noticed similar patterns of &#8220;brain atrophy&#8221; between patients with Alzheimer&#8217;s and others classified as &#8220;obese.&#8221; Specifically, they found that both groups experienced &#8220;widespread reduced cortical thickness&#8221; in areas of the brain that impact learning, memory and judgment.</p>
<p>Notably, these similarities weren&#8217;t observed in other patients classified as &#8220;lean.&#8221;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Researchers Believe &#8216;Excess Weight Management&#8217; May Help Reduce Risk Of &#8216;Obesity-Related Grey Matter Atrophy&#8217;</h3>
<p>As a result of the study, the researchers ultimately uncovered that &#8220;obesity-related grey matter atrophy resembles that of [Alzheimer&#8217;s disease].&#8221;</p>
<p>Additionally, they also noted that &#8220;excess weight management&#8221; could potentially lower the risk for the condition. This finding appears to build on <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/aging/dumpy-middle-age-could-mean-earlier-alzheimers-n419446" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earlier research</a> that suggests overweight people may develop Alzheimer&#8217;s at a younger age.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Our research confirms that obesity-related grey matter atrophy resembles that of AD. Excess weight management could lead to improved health outcomes, slow down cognitive decline in aging, and lower the risk for AD.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>So, while much is still unknown about Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, it appears as though practicing healthier lifestyle choices and managing one&#8217;s weight can help reduce the risk of developing similar symptoms.</p>
<p>In fact, the researchers note, &#8220;Our results highlight the importance of interventions aimed at decreasing weight and metabolic risk factors in obese and overweight individuals in mid-life to decrease the subsequent risk of neurodegeneration and dementia in the population.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, as Linda Van Horn—the chief of nutrition at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine—tells <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/aging/obesity-can-cause-changes-brain-similar-alzheimers-study-suggests-rcna66555" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>NBC News</em></a>, losing weight may not be able to reverse damage that&#8217;s already done. After all, &#8220;there are certain points of no return.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="">&#8220;We, unfortunately, are discovering more and more that there are certain points of no return. I believe, based on examples like osteoporosis, that the chances of reversing the disease are lower than that of preserving what’s there.&#8221;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>What do you think about these findings?</p>
 <div class="wpra-reactions-wrap wpra-plugin-container" style="justify-content: center;;"> <div class="wpra-reactions-container" data-ver="1.3.10" data-post_id="110253" data-show_count="true" data-enable_share="onclick" data-behavior="regular" data-animation="true" data-share_url="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/study-obesity-alzheimers-disease-patterns-brain/" data-secure="2a1d850594"> <div class="wpra-call-to-action" style="color: #000000;font-size: 25px;font-weight: 600;">What Do You Think Roomies?</div> <div class="wpra-reactions wpra-static-emojis size-medium" style="border-color: #ffffff;border-width: 0px;border-radius: 50px;border-style: solid;background: #ffffff;">					<div class="emoji-8 wpra-reaction wpra-pad-fix" data-count="" data-emoji_id="8"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-10 wpra-reaction wpra-pad-fix" data-count="" data-emoji_id="10"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-4 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="4"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-5 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="5"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-2 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="2"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-7 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="7"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-12 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="12"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div> </div> <div class="wpra-share-wrap wpra-share-buttons-bordered" style="">				 </div> <!-- end of share buttons -->			 </div> <!-- end of reactions container --> </div> <!-- end of reactions wrap -->		
