AREQUIPA, Peru – People with high levels of body fat stored in the abdomen or arms may be more likely to develop diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
This is what researchers from Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, claim, according to a study published in the magazine Neurology.
The research also found that those with high levels of muscle strength were less likely to develop these diseases than those with low muscle strength.
The study also highlights the potential to reduce people’s risk of developing these diseases by improving their body composition.
According to experts, interventions aimed at reducing trunk and arm fat while promoting healthy muscle development may be more effective in protecting against these diseases. diseases than general weight control.
The results of the study were obtained from an analysis of 412,691 people with an average age of 56 years, who were followed for an average of nine years.
At the start of the study, body composition measurements were taken, including waist and hip circumference, grip strength, bone density, and fat and lean mass.
During the study, 8,224 people developed neurodegenerative diseases, mainly Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia and Parkinson’s.
After adjusting for other factors that might affect disease rates, such as high blood pressure, smokingalcohol consumption and diabetes, researchers found that overall, people with high levels of abdominal fat were 13 percent more likely to develop these conditions.
Meanwhile, people with high muscle strength were 26 percent less likely to develop diseases than those with low levels of strength.
Similarly, the relationship between these body compositions and neurodegenerative diseases was partly explained by the appearance, after the start of the study, of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke.
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