'Beer belly' linked to Alzheimer's disease

[Ed Barrow]

Source: BBC

People who carry a lot of weight around their middle are at increased risk of developing dementia, say researchers.

A US study of more than 700 adults showed that being overweight is associated with smaller brain volume, a factor linked with dementia.

The finding was particularly strong in those with high levels of visceral fat - fatty tissue which sits around the organs, Annals of Neurology reported.

...

Study leader Dr Sudha Seshadri concluded: "Although these findings are preliminary, they could improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationship of obesity with dementia, with potentially important implications for prevention strategies."



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8693947.stm

[Love Bug]

1. Oh, great. Another reason to feel stressed about being fat.

[MUAD_DIB]

5. Don't be stressed. Diet and exercise. That's all you need.

[alfredo]

13. If you are a veteran, the VA has a very good weight loss program called MoveVA.

I've used it with success, so far. It's about portion control, minding calories and eating smart. Exercise is part of it, but building a new relationship with food is a bigger part.

[MUAD_DIB]

14. Sounds like they have a good plan.

Don't forget: 5 servings/cups of fruit and/or vegetables per day.

[alfredo]

20. I have a fruit smoothie nearly every day. Had Rapini and garlic over WW pasta

for dinner.

[rurallib]

2. bad news makes me want to down a 12-pack.

[DJ13]

3. Aw crap, Im scre....... what were we talking about?

[daleo]

4. From the article

"This is not really surprising as a large stomach is associated with high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes - all major risk factors for dementia."

This could also be related to lifestyle e.g. smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.

[goclark]

8. My mother is 91 years old

Absolutely not a drinker.

Was 98 lbs. when she married in 1941

She loves to go out to eat but always eats fruits, veggies etc.


She is now 104 lbs and that has been about her weight for a long time.

She has suffered with Alzheimer's for about 8 years.

I know there are exceptions to the findings but it is so heartbreaking to watch. :cry:

[hollowdweller]

10. Hugs to you goclark

Sorry about your mom.

[goclark]

28. Thanks so much for caring

It means a lot to know that others understand
:hug:

[MUAD_DIB]

17. I share a similar story, but it is with my dad. He's 79 this year.

Do you mind if I ask how your mother is right now?

[goclark]

27. I don't mind you asking at all ~ hope it will help others

I can't leave the house unless I take her with me or have someone here with her.

One of the greatest gifts that anyone can give a Care Giver is to offer to just sit and look at TV with the person for an hour or two. Please friends, don't ever give Care Givers the advice to
" Just get someone to care of him/her full time!"

I say the above because I am blessed to be able to do that if I have to but this is "MY Mother" and I want the honor of taking care of her ~ she has taken care of me so beautifully all these years and I want to take care of her now!

We are blessed to have amazing friends, professional Care Givers and family members that help me all the time. I just got back from a weeks vacation in Palm Springs. I worried about her the entire time,the way you would worry if you left a child between
1 - 6 years.

There is no way that I can say ~ " Don't go into the kitchen Mom until I go with you." It won't stick and remember that she is/was the sweetest person I've ever known. Always following the rules.

The best way that I can describe it is ~~ most of the time there is no glue in her short term memory and there is rarely an understanding of "cause and effect."

I can warn her to not cut a banana with a knife, let me do it for her and five minutes later there she is trying to cut a banana. I can be in the kitchen with her and turn my back for 2 seconds.

Also realize that this has been her house for 60 years and it is hard for her to realize that she is no longer the Head of the House. I can't say I blame her for that, it's hard.

:hug: for you and your Dad - make sure to give him lots of water, that is one thing that I know helps a lot.

I have read some of the remarks in this thread that are laughing at the findings and making jokes. That really hurts to see people making light of a illness such as this, that hurts because I want a cure and I would hope they want a cure too. They must not have a family member or friend with the condition yet.

It's not funny IMO. :cry:

[FailureToCommunicate]

29. Sorry, GoClark. We're laughin' just to keep from cryin' Of course Alzheimer's is awful

My mom, who recently passed, had beginning stages of it near the end. But in some ways it helped, because we had just lost my younger brother to cancer and for Mom, it was too much to bear. We think her memory loss helped -somewhat- to lessen the sharpness of the pain of losing a child...

Anyway, please know that some of the comments here were not meant to in any way to make light of what you are going through.

You are so correct to advise your friends here to insist on the rightness of continued PERSONAL care - no matter the difficulty-for our loved ones who gave so much to us.

[goclark]

30. Thank you for understanding nt

[daleo]

33. I have seen it too

Though it wasn't Alzheimer's per se, my mom had major problems with her memory towards the end of her life. Same with my dad. It is indeed very sad.

[Abq_Sarah]

31. Abdominal fat is related to

Insulin resistance.

Researchers already know there is a link between diabetes and Alzheimer's.

[kestrel91316]

6. I have a near-pathological fear of getting fat, lol. Not just because I look so bad when

I do, but because of the health consequences. The old folks in my family tend to live into their late 80's but they keep their weight down to do it.

Fortunately our family doesn't run to obesity.

[DainBramaged]

7. "being overweight is associated with smaller brain volume"

And does being tall equate to smaller penis volume? What a bunch of horseshit. Way too many other contributing factors to even try to rationalize being overweight to having a small brain volume.



Being Republican is one.

[snagglepuss]

9. ROFLMAO

Great post. absolutely hilarious.


Made my day.



:rofl:

[shanti]

11. add diabetes to that too

(big belly)

[Terry_M]

15. Oops - NM

[boppers]

12. "Being unhealthy has health risks"

Wow, our scientists sure are smart!

[Terry_M]

16. Read the other day that...

Toxic chemicals kill stuff!

:shrug:

[boppers]

21. Oooh, can they check on water?

I heard something about determining whether or not it's "wet", I wonder if they've completed that study yet?

[Javaman]

26. it's divided into two camps...

the "wet" camp and the "moist" camp.

It's ugly, but not as ugly as the groups involved it the "dumb as dirt" studies.

LOL

[FailureToCommunicate]

18. But, I heard the 'pre-deployed air bag' made you safer...at least in accidents. Cut sugar,

add loads of vegetables (sorry, NOT deep fried), and walk, jog, or run around your neighborhood every evening before dinner. That's it. That really works. Free advice. I haven't emptied your wallet on some goofy diet program.

Bye bye 'belly fat" Hello bigger...ah..brain.

[HooptieWagon]

19. That's just the beer talking.

[AlbertCat]

22. People who carry a lot of weight... are at increased risk of developing dementia,

Then again, skinny, healthy people live long lives....with no fun....

[Liberty Belle]

23. I don't believe this.

Everyone I've know with Alzheimer's was thin as a rail, underweight if anything.

[yurbud]

24. is the fat a cause or a co-effect

[Abq_Sarah]

32. I'd guess

An effect. Higher insulin levels drive more fat into storage and prevent fat from being released for energy.

[LiberalLovinLug]

25. Its not true

I have nice little brew gut going and I'm just
just
just....uh....

oh hell pass me another can