A study shows striking differences in the volume of white matter between obese and lean people -
In middle age, the brains of obese people have differences in white matter similar to that of lean individuals ten years their senior, according to a new study by the University of Cambridge. White matter is the tissue that connects the brain areas and allows information to communicate between the regions
Our brains shrink naturally with age, but scientists increasingly recognize that obesity -. already linked to conditions such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease - may also influence the onset and progression of brain aging; however, direct studies to support this link is lacking
In a cross-sectional study -. In other words, a study examining data from individuals at some point in time - the researchers examined the impact of obesity on brain structure throughout adult life whether the obesity has been associated with brain changes characteristic of aging. The team studied data from 473 people between the ages of 20 and 87, recruited by the Cambridge Center for Aging and neuroscience. The results are published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging
The researchers divided the data into two categories based on the weight :. Lean and overweight. They found striking differences in the volume of white matter in the brains of overweight people compared to those of their leaner counterparts. Overweight people had a general reduction of white matter compared to support people.
The team then calculated how the white matter volume associated with age in both groups. They found that overweight person to, say, 50 years was a white matter volume comparable to a skinny person aged 60 years, which implies a difference in the brain the age of 10 years.
Strikingly, however, the researchers observed the following means and age differences, which suggests that our brains may be especially vulnerable during this period of aging.
"As our brains age, they naturally shrink in size, but we do not know why people who are overweight have a greater reduction in the amount of white matter," says first author Dr. Lisa Ronan of the psychiatry department at the University of Cambridge, "We can only speculate whether obesity might cause these changes in a manner or whether obesity is a consequence of changes in the brain"
Senior author Professor Paul Fletcher, Department of psychiatry, adds. "We live in an aging population, with increasing levels of obesity, so it is essential that we establish how these factors might interact, because the health consequences are potentially serious.
"the fact that we only saw the average age differences from raises the possibility that we may be particularly vulnerable at this age. It will also be important to know whether these changes may be reversible with weight loss, which may well be the case. "
Despite the obvious differences in the volume of white matter between lean and obese individuals, researchers found no link between being overweight or obese and cognitive abilities of an individual, as measured in . using a similar standard to test an IQ test
Co-author Professor Sadaf Farooqi, of the Institute Council of medical research Wellcome Trust-of Metabolic science in Cambridge, said: "We yet know the implications of these changes in brain structure. obviously, this must be a starting point for us to further explore the effects of weight, diet and exercise on the brain and memory ".
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