If there weren’t enough reasons obesity is bad, research shows that staying obese could accelerate memory loss. But now a new study from the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University says that losing this weight, either through weight loss surgery or exercise, could reverse rapid memory decline.
Published in the The Journal of Neuroscience, researcher Dr. Alexis M. Stranahan says that belly fat specifically is likely the cause of these memory defects.
“These obese diabetic mice have very high levels of inflammatory cytokines and I think it’s because their bodies are reacting to the invasion of fat into tissues where it does not belong,” says Stranahan. “It’s almost as if the fat were an external pathogen.”
What Researchers Found
Making her findings public earlier last week, Stranahan first developed this study based off previous research which found that obesity and diabetes tripled the risk of mild cognitive impairment–and to a lesser degree, Alzheimer’s disease. Stranahan wanted to find how fat specifically affected cognitive impairment in the brain, but couldn’t do so with humans.
Instead, she opted for the next best option: Lab mice.
“Adipose tissue is a known source of proinflammatory cytokines in obese humans and animal models, including the db/db mouse, in which obesity arises as a result of leptin receptor insensitivity,” says Stranahan. “Inflammatory cytokines induce cognitive deficits across numerous conditions, but no studies have determined whether obesity-induced inflammation mediates synaptic dysfunction.”
Using mice whose genes were altered to make them obese and diabetic, Stranahan and her team had them run on a treadmill for 5 to 10 kilometers a week for a total of 3 months to see if it affected their memory capacity. And indeed, the results were good: When mice lost 15 to 20 percent of their body weight, levels of interleukin-1 beta were reduced.
This essentially means over time, their brain cells were able to communicate better, negating the effects of memory loss.
“Treadmill training prevented hippocampal microgliosis, abolished expression of microglial activation markers, and also blocked the functional sensitization observed in isolated cells after ex vivo exposure to lipopolysaccharide,” says Stranahan. “Reduced microglial reactivity with exercise was associated with reinstatement of hippocampus-dependent memory, reversal of deficits in long-term potentiation, and normalization of hippocampal dendritic spine density.”
What You Should Do
In conclusion, Stranahan says that exercising regularly–especially if it results in loss of body fat–is the best option for those who are overweight or obese, as it helps people reverse memory loss. Weight loss surgery too may be an option, though it carries its own set of risks, and not everyone is eligible for the procedure.
But everyone can absolutely exercise, say experts.
“Early data indicates that it takes over-fed mice longer to get fat and show signs of cognitive impairment than their genetically altered counterparts,” says Stranahan. “But, again, the damage appears reversible.”
Readers: Why else do you exercise?
Sources:
Study: Reduction in Belly Fat May Reverse Memory Loss – JneuroSci.org
Exercise, Loss in Belly Fat Reduces Memory Loss Risk – MedicalNewsToday.com
News Release: Reducing Belly Fat May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease – EurekAlert.org
About The Author: Zero to Hero Fitness
Our mission at Zero to Hero Fitness is to help you to finally lose the weight and keep it off, strengthen your body and mind, and experience naturally high levels of energy throughout the day. We believe everyone, regardless of your past or current struggles with your health or fitness, can greatly improve on your existing condition and live life in your best body possible.