Researchers have conducted the first study evaluating the impact of obesity on Alzheimer’s disease blood biomarkers (BBMs).
According to findings presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, BBM values increased up to 95% faster in individuals with obesity than in non-obese individuals.
Dr. Cyrus Raji, senior author of the study and principal investigator at the Neuroimaging Labs Research Center at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, emphasized the significance: “This is the first time we’ve shown the relationship between obesity and Alzheimer’s disease as measured by blood biomarker tests.”
The researchers accessed five-year data from 407 participants via the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Each participant underwent amyloid PET scans and blood testing. PET scans visualized amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
Blood samples were analyzed for several BBMs: pTau217: used to diagnose and monitor Alzheimer’s. Neurofilament light chain (NfL): indicates neuron damage. Plasma GFAP: linked to brain-supporting astrocytes. Six leading commercial tests were used for the analysis.
Initial baseline data suggested that individuals with higher BMI had lower BBM levels and reduced amyloid burden. Researchers believe this is due to blood volume dilution in obese individuals, which may obscure early signs of Alzheimer’s pathology.
However, longitudinal data showed a more alarming trend. Participants with obesity exhibited:
A 29% to 95% faster increase in pTau217.
A 24% faster rise in NfL levels.
A 3.7% faster increase in amyloid accumulation.
The blood tests were found to be more sensitive than PET scans in detecting the impact of obesity on Alzheimer’s biomarkers.
The findings underscore obesity as a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s. According to The Lancet Commission’s 2024 report, 14 modifiable factors account for nearly 45% of Alzheimer’s risk. Weight management could delay or reduce the onset of the disease.
Dr. Raji and his team emphasized the importance of longitudinal assessments using blood biomarkers and imaging tools. With the rise of effective weight-loss drugs, future studies could examine how these medications influence Alzheimer’s risk markers.
This pioneering study establishes a clear link between obesity and the accelerated progression of Alzheimer’s pathology. As new treatments emerge, BBM tracking paired with MRI imaging may become essential in Alzheimer’s prevention and management.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies that bad lifestyle habits can cause Alzheimer’s disease, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
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