I know it sounds like a flabby hypothesis, but there's apparently some evidence tying plus-sized waistlines to mental decline once you hit your senior citizen years (age 60 or older, for purposes of this statistically significant study, which was conducted by Trinity College Dublin, in Ireland).
The US Centers for Disease Control estimated, a couple of years ago, that more than 40 percent of Americans are obese. Even Americans in their 20s are suffering from the obesity epidemic, with 36 percent of that age cohort hauling around far more weight than they should.
Americans age 60 and older have an obesity rate of about 41 percent. This study found that once you're in your sixties and carrying around too much belly fat, the worse your mental acuity became, including for memory as well as for judgment. Additionally, study participants were found to have had problems with clear thinking.
This from Conal Cunningham, associate professor of medical gerontology at Trinity (I love the school's library, BTW):
"While we have known for some time that obesity is associated with negative health consequences, our study adds to emerging evidence suggesting that obesity and where we deposit our excess weight could influence our brain health. This has significant public health implications."
Collectively, the issue is known as MCI or "Mild Cognitive Impairment," which is a condition separate from NCD or "Normal Cognitive Decline." The latter is oftentimes a consequence of becoming elderly. MCI is classed as an intermediate stage between NCD and dementia, which is a serious and irreversible mental decline. Experts estimate that by 2040, some 81 million people worldwide will be living with dementia.
Get the lead out? No. Get the weight off and stay away from those sugary drinks, for starters. NOW.
"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
The US Centers for Disease Control estimated, a couple of years ago, that more than 40 percent of Americans are obese. Even Americans in their 20s are suffering from the obesity epidemic, with 36 percent of that age cohort hauling around far more weight than they should.
Americans age 60 and older have an obesity rate of about 41 percent. This study found that once you're in your sixties and carrying around too much belly fat, the worse your mental acuity became, including for memory as well as for judgment. Additionally, study participants were found to have had problems with clear thinking.
This from Conal Cunningham, associate professor of medical gerontology at Trinity (I love the school's library, BTW):
"While we have known for some time that obesity is associated with negative health consequences, our study adds to emerging evidence suggesting that obesity and where we deposit our excess weight could influence our brain health. This has significant public health implications."
Collectively, the issue is known as MCI or "Mild Cognitive Impairment," which is a condition separate from NCD or "Normal Cognitive Decline." The latter is oftentimes a consequence of becoming elderly. MCI is classed as an intermediate stage between NCD and dementia, which is a serious and irreversible mental decline. Experts estimate that by 2040, some 81 million people worldwide will be living with dementia.
Get the lead out? No. Get the weight off and stay away from those sugary drinks, for starters. NOW.
"Politics is just show business for ugly people."