Scientists continue to search for potential causes that can lead a person to develop Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease as the years go on. In their latest discovery, a group of researchers found a possible correlation between neurodegenerative disease and how our body stores fat.
The study, published July 24 in the Neurology journal, tracked the health and body characteristics of nearly 413,000 British people over a nine-year period. The team measured each person's waist and hip and tested their hand-grip strength, bone density, and fat and lean mass.
Over a nine-year span, 8,224 people went on to develop neurodegenerative diseases. In most cases, this was Alzheimer's, other forms of dementia, or Parkinson's. Most interestingly, the researchers found that participants with relatively high levels of fat in their belly and arms were between 13 and 18 percent more prone to developing a neurodegenerative disease. On the flip side, those with relatively good muscle conditioning were up to 26 percent less likely to develop diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.
"This study highlights the potential to lessen people’s risk of developing these diseases by improving their body composition," study lead author Dr. Huan Song said in a statement. "Targeted interventions to reduce trunk and arm fat while promoting healthy muscle development may be more effective for protection against these diseases than general weight control."
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Higher fat levels in the arms and stomach weren't only connected to some neurological issues. The research also found a possible link between lots of fat in these places and the development of heart disease and stroke—two health issues that can eventually affect the brain.
“This underscores the importance of managing these cardiovascular diseases right away to help prevent or delay the development of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or other degenerative diseases," Song pointed out.
If you haven't been incorporating some muscle-toning into your workouts, now might be the time to start.
