A major new health study has delivered a stark warning for middle-aged women, revealing that carrying excess weight around the midsection is a significant red flag for future cognitive decline.
The Hidden Danger of Visceral Fat
Published in the journal Menopause, the research indicates that an expanding waistline during a woman's middle years can be a powerful predictor of dementia risk. Scientists identified that central adiposity – the medical term for belly fat – acts as a key risk factor.
This is particularly concerning as weight gain around the abdomen is extremely common during the perimenopause and post-menopause stages. The study highlights that this specific type of fat, known as visceral adipose tissue, is stored around internal organs like the stomach and liver and poses far greater health threats than general body fat.
The Hormonal and Inflammatory Link
The connection appears to be driven by a double whammy of falling oestrogen levels after menopause and the inflammatory markers produced by visceral fat. These factors are associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and heightened inflammatory processes in the body.
Crucially, oestrogen receptors in the brain are concentrated in areas responsible for executive function and memory. The combination of inflammation and hormonal changes seems to create a perfect storm for cognitive damage.
The research involved more than 700 women aged between 42 and 58 who were less than 36 months past natural menopause. Participants were divided into groups receiving different forms of hormone therapy or a placebo.
A Simple Early Warning Sign
By using the waist-to-hip ratio to measure central body fat, researchers found that women with a higher baseline ratio performed worse across all cognitive measures. The four-year study observed negative changes specifically in visual attention and executive function.
This has led experts to suggest that simple body measurements could serve as an early and easily recognisable indicator of risk for both metabolic and cognitive problems.
Dr Taryn James, a study co-author from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated that central adiposity was not found to moderate hormone therapy when compared with placebo cognitive domain-specific outcomes.
Call for Proactive Health Strategies
Dr Monica Christmas, associate medical director for The Menopause Society, has welcomed the findings. She emphasised the critical importance of addressing modifiable risk factors early.
Instituting preventive lifestyle strategies before the menopause transition will result in longitudinal health gains and reduced morbidity and mortality, Dr Christmas advised.
The researchers conclude that the cognitive health effects of central body fat should be examined in early postmenopausal women, even those who currently show a low risk for cardiovascular disease.
