Obesity is known to increase the risk of many diseases, like heart problems and diabetes. But its exact link to Alzheimer’s disease has been unclear—until now.
A new study from Houston Methodist researchers has found a possible explanation.
The study discovered that small particles released from body fat, called extracellular vesicles, may play a key role.
These tiny particles act like messengers that travel through the body, sending signals from one cell to another.
In people with obesity, these vesicles carry a different mix of fat molecules, known as lipids, compared to people who are not obese.
The researchers found that the lipids in these vesicles can affect how amyloid-β, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s, sticks together and forms clumps. These clumps, called plaques, are a major sign of Alzheimer’s disease. The more quickly the protein clumps together, the higher the risk of brain damage.
The team behind this discovery included Dr. Stephen Wong, who led the study, along with Dr. Li Yang and Dr. Jianting Sheng.
They used samples from human body fat and mouse models to study how these vesicles move and what they do. The researchers also showed that these particles can cross into the brain by passing through the blood-brain barrier.
This means that body fat doesn’t just sit under the skin. It may actually send harmful signals to the brain, speeding up the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study was published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. It suggests that obesity is more than just a risk factor—it may be directly involved in the process that causes brain damage. In fact, recent studies now list obesity as the number one risk factor for dementia in the United States that can be changed through lifestyle.
One important part of this research is how the vesicles in obese people carry different lipids than those in lean people. These changes in lipids can make amyloid-β clump faster, which can lead to earlier or worse symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
This study could help doctors find new ways to prevent or slow down Alzheimer’s, especially in people who are overweight or obese. One idea is to create treatments that block these vesicles or change what they carry, stopping them from telling the brain to form harmful plaques.
The research team also included scientists from The Ohio State University and the University of Texas Health Science Center. They believe future studies should look at how drugs can stop these vesicles from doing damage. If successful, this could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s in millions of people.
In short, this study shows that what happens in our body fat doesn’t stay there—it can affect our brain. Understanding this new connection could lead to new ways to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease, especially for people with obesity.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about foods that reduce Alzheimer’s risk, and oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
