Belly Fat, Obesity Increase Dementia Risk In 70s

In the study, which was published Wednesday by the journal Neurology, people who were both obese and had a large belly were three times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia in later years than those of normal weight and belly size.

The risk of dementia nearly doubled in those who were a healthy weight but still had a bulging waist, suggesting that fat accumulated around the midline is particularly unhealthy for the brain.

The report from Kaiser Permanente reads that "People in their 40s with larger stomachs have a higher risk for dementia when they reach their 70s, according to a study published in the March 26, 2008, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology."

Editor's Note: eMaxHealth has the entire report published on Belly Fat, Obesity and Dementia in today's issue for further reading.