Obesity’s Adverse Effects on Brain Health

Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Talip Asil stated that obesity has negative effects on brain health. As obesity emerges as a rapidly increasing health problem worldwide, Asil emphasized that it also brings along many other health issues.

Prof. Dr. Asil used the expressions “Obesity can also negatively affect vascular health by leading to a condition called atherosclerosis that can disrupt brain blood flow. These blockages in the carotid arteries and vessels within the brain can cause the development of a stroke, which results in a sudden and devastating impairment of brain functions.”

Emphasizing that brain volume naturally decreases with age, Asil drew attention to the connection between obesity and brain volume.

Asil evaluated, “There is a known relationship between obesity and brain volume. In a study conducted in 2010 by the Boston University School of Medicine on 733 adults, it was found that body mass index (BMI) is inversely related to total brain volume. In other words, individuals with higher body fat have lower brain volume.”

Professor Dr. Asil indicated that being obese can increase brain age by 10 years, stating that the decrease in brain volume and white matter disrupts communication between neurons, leading to impairment of cognitive functions such as decision making, problem-solving, and analyzing events.

Touching upon the effects of obesity on neurodegenerative diseases, Asil stated:

“Due to the disruption of brain blood flow in obese individuals and the increase in neuroinflammation reactions, the likelihood of developing degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s increases. A recent study has shown that the accumulation of the protein called amyloid, which causes Alzheimer’s disease, begins in the brain years before the clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear in middle-aged individuals with increased fat accumulation and elevated body mass index. Therefore, being overweight in middle age is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s development.”

Highlighting that obesity not only affects physical health but also seriously affects brain health, Asil emphasized the importance of healthy lifestyle changes to reduce long-term health risks of being overweight. (AA)