Belly Fat in Older Women Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia

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Older women carrying an above-average amount of fat around their middle could be at higher risk of getting dementia, a study has found.
According to CNN, a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that above-average abdominal fat in later adulthood women can lead to a 39 percent increased risk of dementia within 15 years compared to women with normal waist circumference.
“For men and women over 50, the dementia risk is 28 percent when taking body mass index and waist circumference into account together, the study researchers said.
CNN reports the study “measured participants’ height, weight and waist circumference and followed up with them an average of 11 years later to see whether they’d been diagnosed with dementia.”
“Dementia is one of the major health challenges of the 21st century that could threaten successful aging of the population,” said Andrew Steptoe, a study co-author and professor of psychology and epidemiology at University College London. “Our findings suggest that rising obesity rates will compound the issue.”