Adverse Associations between Visceral Adiposity, Brain Structure, and Cognitive Performance in Healthy Elderly

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Radiology

Background:

• Central adiposity, measured indirectly by BMI, is linked to cognitive decline.
• Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with cardiovascular and cerebro-vascular disease risks.
• The direct correlation between quantified VAT, brain structure, and cognition remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between MRI-quantified abdominal adiposity and cognitive performance in healthy elderly individuals.
• To characterize the association between VAT, brain morphometry, and cognitive function using advanced imaging techniques.

Main Methods:

• 184 healthy elderly subjects without cognitive impairment were recruited.
• Data collected included anthropometric markers, cardiovascular risk factors, neuropsychological tests, and MRI scans of the brain and abdomen.
• Abdominal MRI quantified visceral adipose tissue (VAT), while brain MRI analyzed total brain volume, hippocampal volume, ventricular volume, and cortical thickness.

Main Results:

• VAT showed a negative association with verbal memory and attention.
• Higher VAT levels correlated with lower hippocampal volume and larger ventricular volumes.
• Individuals in the highest VAT quartile exhibited the smallest hippocampal volumes, even after adjusting for covariates. A significant age by VAT interaction was observed for prefrontal cortical thickness.

Conclusions:

• Elevated visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with detrimental effects on cognitive function in healthy older adults.
• Increased VAT negatively impacts brain morphometry, including hippocampal volume and cortical thickness.