Why the study?
Global anthropometric measures of obesity fail to capture regional differences in body fat distribution and visceral adiposity in relation to brain ageing.
Are specific measures of adipose tissue distribution associated with cross-sectional and longitudinal brain ageing in healthy adults?
Population
790 healthy individuals (mean age 46.7 years, 53% women)
Comparison
Body MRI measures of adipose tissue distribution
Design
Mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal study
Follow-up
Mean 19.7 ± 0.5 months
Key result
Higher levels of liver fat, muscle fat infiltration, and weight-to-muscle ratio were associated with older-appearing brains and accelerated brain ageing over a 19.7-month period.
Authors
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Regional adiposity metrics may refine obesity-brain links in ageing; hypothesis-generating, needs prospective validation.
Observational (n=790)
Yes
Are specific measures of adipose tissue distribution associated with cross-sectional and longitudinal brain ageing in healthy adults?
Specific MRI-derived measures of fat distribution, such as liver fat and muscle fat infiltration, are associated with accelerated brain ageing in healthy adults.
Beck et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Healthy adults (n=790). Adipose tissue distribution (liver fat, muscle fat infiltration, weight-to-muscle ratio) vs. Lower adipose tissue measures was evaluated on Brain age gap (BAG) based on T1 and DTI MRI. Higher levels of liver fat, muscle fat infiltration, and weight-to-muscle ratio were associated with older-appearing brains and accelerated brain ageing over a 19.7-month period.