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Hyderabad: On World Alzheimer’s Day, medical practitioners have expressed concern over the rise in obesity and its impact on the rise in dementia cases.
It is a well-known fact that obesity is the root of all disease, and obesity in middle age is an established risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
“Being overweight or obese negatively affects brain health, especially in regions most vulnerable to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. This can potentially exacerbate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease if it develops,” said Dr Haritha Koganti, consultant neurologist at KIMS Hospital.
Studies have shown that in overweight or obese people who did not have cognitive impairment or mild lung disease, the more overweight they were, the greater the rate of brain cell loss and lower blood flow, the doctor said.
According to Dr. Manoj Vasireddy, Consultant Neurologist at Amor Hospitals, lack of regular exercise or physical activity affects brain function and can slow it down in the long run. “Slowing down the brain is a serious concern and can lead to dementia. Obesity in the middle-aged population is a major concern, driving Alzheimer’s disease in our society,” he said.
“Obesity is known to make people resistant to leptin and insulin. Leptin is a peptide hormone synthesized in adipose tissue that mainly regulates food intake. While leptin, through a negative feedback loop, reduces insulin release and increases tissue sensitivity to it, leading to glucose uptake for energy use or storage and chronic mild inflammation in the blood vessels of various organs, including the brain,” said Dr. Gowri Shankar. Bapanapalli, Consultant Physician, SLG Hospitals.
According to Dr. Suresh Reddy, consultant neurologist at Aware Gleneagles Global Hospital, being overweight or obese throughout a person’s life reduces the brain’s resistance to the harmful effects of disease. Therefore, it is important that each person maintain an active physical life that would ensure that their brain receives enough nutrition to ensure proper functioning.
There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, so it is important to take as many precautions as possible from an early age to prevent the possibility of developing it, he added.
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