A recent study has uncovered that middle-aged women who see an increase in their waist size are at a higher risk of developing dementia. Researchers have identified that excess belly fat in women during middle age could signal cognitive decline.
The study, published in the journal Menopause, indicates that a woman’s waist circumference may offer important insights into her likelihood of experiencing cognitive decline as she ages. Healthcare professionals note that weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, is common during the perimenopause and post-menopause periods.
These weight gains, combined with the decrease in estrogen levels following menopause, are linked to reduced insulin sensitivity and increased inflammatory processes. The latest research suggests that “central adiposity,” a medical term for excessive belly fat, is also a contributing factor to cognitive decline.
Health experts emphasize that visceral adipose tissue – fat stored around organs like the stomach, intestines, and liver – poses greater health risks compared to overall body fat. These risks include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The elevation in inflammatory markers due to visceral fat and declining estrogen levels during menopause seem to play a significant role in the development of these health conditions. This has led researchers to propose that measuring central body fat, such as the waist-to-hip ratio, could serve as early and easily identifiable indicators of metabolic and cognitive risks. This is particularly relevant as estrogen receptors in the brain are concentrated in regions responsible for memory and executive function.
Previous clinical trials investigating the relationship between hormone therapy and cognition yielded inconsistent results based on participants’ ages. Consequently, researchers in the recent study delved further into the association between central body fat, cognitive function, and hormone therapy use in women who had recently entered menopause.
The study involved over 700 women aged 42 to 58, who were within 36 months of natural menopause. Participants were divided into three groups – those receiving oral conjugated equine estrogen, those receiving transdermal estradiol, and those receiving a placebo.
Central body fat was evaluated using waist-to-hip ratio measurements. The researchers discovered that women with a higher initial waist-to-hip ratio demonstrated poorer performance across various cognitive tests, with only changes in visual attention and executive function observed during the four-year study period.
Dr. Taryn James, a co-author of the study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated that “central adiposity did not impact hormone therapy compared to placebo on cognitive domain-specific outcomes.”
Based on their findings, the researchers recommend examining the cognitive health effects in early postmenopausal women, even those with low cardiovascular risk profiles. Dr. Monica Christmas, associate medical director for The Menopause Society, welcomed these conclusions.
She remarked, “Addressing modifiable risk factors early and regularly is crucial for maintaining optimal health and independence as women age. The metabolic and cognitive changes that commonly occur during and after menopause often take women by surprise and are harder to address post-diagnosis.”
Dr. Christmas further added, “Implementing preventative lifestyle strategies before menopause will lead to long-term health benefits and reduced morbidity and mortality.”