Introduction to Brain Health
Want to stay sharp into old age? You might want to start hitting the gym. New research suggests that a hidden trait in your body could hold the key to maintaining a younger brain — and the implications are huge.
Understanding Brain Aging
“Better brain health, in turn, lowers the risk for future brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Cyrus Raji, a neuroimaging scientist and senior author of the study, said in a statement. The internal structures of your brain can signal how quickly it’s aging. Atthapon – stock.adobe.com
The Study
In the study, Raji and his colleagues evaluated 1,164 healthy adults averaging 55 years old using whole-body MRI scans. These high-tech machines provide a detailed view of muscle, brain tissue and two types of fat: subcutaneous, which lies just under the skin, and visceral, the hidden kind that wraps around your organs deep in the abdomen.
Measuring Brain Age
The researchers then used AI to measure each person’s muscle and fat volume and estimate their “brain age” — how old the brain looks biologically based on its internal structure. A brain that appears older than your actual age may be a sign of accelerated aging, while a younger-looking brain could signal a healthier mind.
The Impact of Muscle and Fat on Brain Age
This biomarker can help identify people at risk of cognitive decline years before symptoms appear, aiding early detection of diseases like Alzheimer’s and allowing for earlier intervention. After running the algorithm, the team found that the balance between a person’s muscle and hidden belly fat had a major impact on brain age. A lower visceral fat to muscle ratio were linked to a younger brain. (JLco) Julia Amaral – stock.adobe.com
The Role of Visceral Fat and Muscle
“While it is commonly known that chronological aging translates to loss of muscle mass and increased hidden belly fat, this work shows that these health measures relate to brain aging itself,” Raji said. “The participants with more muscle tended to have younger-looking brains, while those with more hidden belly fat relative to their muscle had older-looking brains,” he explained. “The fat just under the skin wasn’t related to brain aging.”
Implications for Brain Health
In light of the findings, Raji suggested that building muscle and reducing visceral fat to improve this ratio is a realistic, actionable goal for anyone looking to support their brain health. “This research has validated widely held hypotheses about the association between body composition biomarkers and brain health,” he said. “[It] provides a foundation for those biomarkers to be included in future trials of various metabolic interventions and treatments.”
Future Treatments
That includes GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy, which are used to treat conditions such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. The study findings may have implications for weight loss drugs like Ozempic. myskin – stock.adobe.com
Conclusion
GLP-1s have surged in popularity in recent years, with nearly 12% of Americans having used them to slim down. Over time, patients taking these drugs typically shed 15% to 25% of their body weight — but excess fat isn’t the only thing they’re losing. Raji suggested that the study’s findings could help guide the development of next-generation GLP-1s designed to target visceral fat more than subcutaneous fat while protecting muscle mass. “Losing fat — especially visceral fat — while preserving muscle volume would have the best benefit on brain aging and brain health based on insights from our work,” he said.
FAQs
- Q: What is the key to maintaining a younger brain?
A: The key to maintaining a younger brain could be related to the balance between muscle and hidden belly fat. - Q: How does visceral fat impact brain age?
A: A higher amount of visceral fat relative to muscle mass is associated with an older-looking brain. - Q: Can GLP-1s impact brain health?
A: Yes, GLP-1s may impact brain health by affecting the balance between visceral fat and muscle mass. - Q: What is the recommended approach for supporting brain health based on the study?
A: Building muscle and reducing visceral fat is recommended for supporting brain health.
