A new study has suggested that people with high levels of body fat have a higher risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
According to News Medical, a study published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology found that people with belly and arm fat have 13% more chances of getting Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Meanwhile, the study also suggested that people with high levels of muscular strength have a 26% lower chance of developing these diseases as compared to others.
Huan Song, the author of the study, said, “These neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's affect over 60 million people worldwide, and that number is expected to grow as the population ages, so it's crucial that we identify ways to modify risk factors to develop some preventive tools.”
He further added, “This study highlights the potential to lessen people's risk of developing these diseases by improving their body composition. Targeted interventions to reduce trunk and arm fat while promoting healthy muscle development may be more effective for protection against these diseases than general weight control."
The connection between body composition and neurodegenerative diseases could be explained by the fact that excessive fat can cause heart disease and stroke, which in turn contribute to the development of these neurological diseases.
Song concluded, “This underscores the importance of managing these cardiovascular diseases right away to help prevent or delay the development of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or other degenerative diseases.”
