Mass Dementia Due to Excess Weight — A New Threat to Humanity

Using MRI scans, he compared the brains of people with normal, excess, and obese body weight. The results were disturbing: among those overweight, brain volume decreased by about 4%, equivalent to accelerated brain aging by eight years. In individuals suffering from obesity, brain volume decreased by 8%, meaning their brains appeared 16 years older, writes Pool N3.

A smaller brain volume means less brain tissue, which directly affects cognitive abilities, memory, and overall brain health. Amen noted that a similar pattern was observed among healthy individuals participating in the study, but in those cases, weight did not influence brain size.

According to American scientists, obesity not only reduces brain volume but also increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, depression, schizophrenia, and other severe pathologies due to impaired blood supply to brain regions. “Our study shows that obesity significantly affects the brain by accelerating its aging and reducing its functionality,” said Daniel Amen.

However, the key conclusion drawn by the researcher is that brain changes can be reversed by creating the right environment and properly adjusting one’s lifestyle. A personalized approach to nutrition and physical activity is essential for maintaining brain health and combating excess weight.

Thus, brain health depends not only on heredity and nutrition but is also directly linked to body weight. Weight control is one of the crucial factors in supporting cognitive longevity, experts warn.