A new scientific study suggests that people who have more muscle and less hidden fat deep inside their belly may also have younger and healthier brains.
This exciting research will be presented at an upcoming medical conference and offers fresh insight into the close connection between the body and the brain as we age.
As people grow older, their bodies naturally change. Muscle mass tends to decrease, and body fat often increases. While some fat sits just under the skin, another type of fat, called visceral fat, builds up deep inside the abdomen, surrounding important organs such as the liver and intestines.
This hidden fat is much more dangerous than the fat we can see or pinch. It has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and now, possibly faster brain aging.
The researchers found that people with more muscle and a lower amount of visceral fat compared to muscle tended to have brains that appeared younger than their actual age.
In contrast, people who had more hidden belly fat and less muscle showed signs of an older brain. This is very important because an older-looking brain may have a higher risk of developing memory problems and diseases like Alzheimer’s in the future.
To understand this better, scientists used a special imaging tool called MRI, which creates detailed pictures of the inside of the body and brain. MRI scans can show the structure of the brain, as well as the amount of muscle and fat in the body.
Using advanced computer programs, the researchers were able to estimate a person’s “brain age.” This is not the same as the number of birthdays a person has had. Instead, brain age reflects how healthy or worn the brain looks when compared with people of different ages.
The study involved over 1,100 healthy adults, slightly more than half of whom were women. The average age of the participants was about 55 years old. Each person had a full-body MRI scan so the scientists could measure how much muscle and fat they had.
The scans also allowed the researchers to look at the participants’ brain structure. An artificial intelligence system analyzed the images and provided estimates of muscle volume, hidden belly fat, fat just under the skin, and predicted brain age.
The results were clear. People who had more muscle tended to have younger-looking brains. On the other hand, people who had a higher amount of visceral fat compared to their muscle had older-looking brains.
Interestingly, the fat that sits just under the skin did not seem to be linked to brain aging. This means that hidden fat inside the body is more strongly connected to brain health than the fat we can see on the outside.
These findings support the idea that physical health and brain health are deeply connected. When the body is stronger and healthier, the brain may also benefit. Building and maintaining muscle appears to be especially important. Muscle is not just for movement and strength.
It also plays a role in controlling blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and supporting overall body function. All of these factors may help protect the brain as well.
The study also has important meaning for people who use popular weight-loss medications, such as GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. These medicines are very good at reducing body fat, including dangerous visceral fat.
However, they can also lead to muscle loss if people are not careful. The researchers believe that future treatments should focus on reducing visceral fat while at the same time protecting or increasing muscle mass. This balance may offer the best protection for both the body and the brain.
In the future, MRI scans and artificial intelligence tools could be used to track changes in muscle, fat, and brain health over time. This could help doctors design better treatment programs for aging adults, people with obesity, and others at risk for memory problems.
Instead of focusing only on weight or body size, health experts may begin to focus more on body composition, meaning the balance between muscle and different types of fat.
When we review and analyze the study’s findings, it becomes clear that this research supports something many health professionals have long believed: building muscle and keeping hidden belly fat low are important not only for physical strength but also for brain health.
It suggests that regular strength training, a balanced diet with enough protein, and a healthy lifestyle that reduces visceral fat could play a major role in slowing down brain aging.
Although more research is needed to confirm these findings over a longer period and in different populations, the results provide strong evidence that the way our bodies are built may directly influence how our brains age.
If you care about muscle, please read studies about factors that can cause muscle weakness in older people, and scientists find a way to reverse high blood sugar and muscle loss.
For more health information, please see recent studies about an easy, cheap way to maintain muscles, and results showing these vegetables essential for your muscle strength.
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