We observe that overweight and Alzheimer’s disease are associated with atrophy of the cortex in the same areas of the brain. Exploring the mechanisms involved might open the door to new ways to treat and prevent the neurodegenerative effects of aging and disease.
It was known that being overweight, even moderately, is associated with a reduction in the density of the gray matter of the brain. A new analysis of several hundred brain scans now shows that this atrophy is very comparable to that caused by Alzheimer’s.
We are beginning to understand the mechanisms involved. The problems of chronic inflammation, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and insulin resistance associated with obesity would cause vascular problems in the brain, leading to this damage to neurons.
That said, another recent study showed that significant weight loss following bariatric surgery enabled the brains of obese people to reverse this damage.
Clinical trials are also underway to confirm the neuroprotective effect of drugs designed a priori to fight once morest obesity and diabetes. This might open the door to ways to treat and prevent symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, in both obese and healthy-weight people.