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>“Our study strengthens previous literature pointing to obesity as a significant factor in AD (Alzheimer's Disease) by showing that cortical thinning might be one of the potential risk mechanisms,” says Filip Morys, a PhD researcher at The Neuro and the study’s first author. “Our results raise the possibility that decreasing weight in obese and overweight individuals in mid-life, in addition to other health benefits, may also decrease the subsequent risk of neurodegeneration and dementia.”

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We really need better education on how physical health improves mental health. Lots of studies out there on how exercise reduces depression, increases retention, helps problem solve, etc., while obesity and blood sugar issues can really impact your mental well being.

Take care of your body to take care of your mind!

We know it’s bad for us, but when the average person is overweight or obese, there comes a point where words mean nothing because of what’s being modeled at home, and around you

Actual paper:

https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad220535

Abstract:

>Background:
>
>Excess weight in adulthood leads to health complications such as diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. Recently, excess weight has also been related to brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Reports show that obesity is linked with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related changes, such as cerebrovascular damage or amyloid-β accumulation. However, to date no research has conducted a direct comparison between brain atrophy patterns in AD and obesity.
>
>Objective:
>
>Here, we compared patterns of brain atrophy and amyloid-β/tau protein accumulation in obesity and AD using a sample of over 1,300 individuals from four groups: AD patients, healthy controls, obese otherwise healthy individuals, and lean individuals.
>
>Methods:
>
>We age- and sex-matched all groups to the AD-patients group and created cortical thickness maps of AD and obesity. This was done by comparing AD patients with healthy controls, and obese individuals with lean individuals. We then compared the AD and obesity maps using correlation analyses and permutation-based tests that account for spatial autocorrelation. Similarly, we compared obesity brain maps with amyloid-β and tau protein maps from other studies.
>
>Results:
>
>Obesity maps were highly correlated with AD maps but were not correlated with amyloid-β/tau protein maps. This effect was not accounted for by the presence of obesity in the AD group.
>
>Conclusion:
>
>Our research confirms that obesity-related grey matter atrophy resembles that of AD. Excess weight management could lead to improved health outcomes, slow down cognitive decline in aging, and lower the risk for AD.

Eh, grew up with a heavy set parent and became an active gym visitor with a steady workout routine. I was definitely influenced by some early educators, so I do think expanding this education will have a positive impact!

Totally, nothing wrong with more education. But like a lot of things, if you want a real push, unfortunately it’s gonna take a lot more than that. We have to look at our culture and understand why we continue to engage in these eating behaviors despite negative consequences. I don’t have much of a solution there

The why tends to be because the government simply incentives/subsidizes unhealthy, addictive foods, which keep foods that make people fat easily accessible, cheap, widespread, and very addicting. See high fructose corn syrup.

Not to be too simplistic, but the why we are fat is directly tied to modern American capitalism/food manufacturing being in bed with the federal government and keeping us fat and sedated rather than well nourished.

Educate enough people on those truths and maybe we can change the system.

It's also a question of time. If you are working three jobs to break even, you may not have the time to cook your own food.

Which, again, is a direct consequence of large capitalism being in bed with the federal government and creating a society in which millions of civilians have to work 3 dead end jobs just to make ends meet and the only food options presented to them are unhealthy, ultra processed, over subsidized meals.

This is something that I hear often and 99% of society is not working so much they never have the time to make healthy meals. I have this challenge to anyone who says they do not have the time: Open the utility which tells you how much time you have spent on your phone the last week and on which app. See how much time you've spent on social media, gaming, drinking booze, smoking weed, driving to get food, etc. etc. etc. Every single time ppl who look at their phone alone show dozens of hours on it casting TV shows, social media, and gaming each week. I too thought I didn't have the time and learned that 99% of us have time to do the things we value. The person working 80 hours a week is an outlier.

78% of American society is overweight/obese w 43% being obese. 142 million Americans are not working 3 jobs, 80 hours a week thus causing them to be obese due to not having the ability to find time to cook. We find the time to do what is important. Once I started valuing my health I found the time to cook healthy meals despite working 50hrs a week w two young children. The avg American works 34 hours a week in total and the avg American is obese. The avg American has the time, resources, and ability to consume healthy foods if they choose to.

I would argue that it’s easier to track your calories if your food is packaged.

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Huh, interesting, quickly read the article, I'm actually really happy this is a thing, not only is it another reason why we should get thinner, it also may validate some of my personal theories that I hope to work on in the future.

You can't individual choice your way out of systemic problems. If 78 percent of the population needs to change something, that requires a systemic response.

You spoke nothing to my point and hand waived it away wo a rational rebuttal. You cannot say ppl do not make healthy choices bc they do not have time to do so due to working 80+ hours a week when < 5% of the population does this, >50% of the population works < 35 hours a week, and > 40% of the population is obese.

What to eat and how much to eat is a personal choice. Education can be done at the population level and is advisable, but, unless you are advocating a totalitarian answer where the government stipulates what you can or cannot eat or picks/chooses what is affordable and what is not, at the end of the day, it is personal choice.

Also, saying "78% of the population experiences this thus it is a systemic issue" is false. I live half the year in France and half in the US (duel citizen). France has ~10% obesity. Is it a personal choice issue in France and not systemic? At what point does it become systemic and why? What do you believe is a personal choice?

The regulatory climate on food is drastically different in Europe vs. America. Access to quality healthcare is more prevalent in Europe. Additives and ingredients commonly used in American food manufacturing that are designed to make foods more addictive are banned in Europe. Portion sizes are smaller. The type and frequency of advertising by the food industry is more heavily regulated. The financial incentives and subsidies given to the food industry are also different.

There will always be some amount of the population that is overweight for a myriad of reasons, and I'm not saying that individual choice has no impact. However, pretending that 78% of the population is just lazy and lacking will power is not going to fix this issue.

Did I say anyone was lazy or lacking willpower? I believe there could be more education, better regulation of additives, better regulation of ag, etc. etc. etc. There are EU/European nations w high and growing rates of obesity despite having all the aforementioned healthcare access, regulation, etc. The UK, Poland, Spain, Malta, and Ireland all have over 25% obesity rates and are growing.

It is a multivariate issue that, at the end of the day, rest on personal choice of individuals. It's like voting for a racist; there are many factors that go into why someone would actively support a racist, but, at the end of the day, each citizen is personally responsible for the vote they have cast. At the end of the day, each person is responsible for the consumption choices they make. It's your body, your health, and your life.

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