Does Your Body Composition Affect Your Risk of Dementia or Parkinson's?

Does your body composition affect your risk of dementia or Parkinson's?

Researchers found that higher levels of belly and arm fat are associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, especially among those with lower muscle strength. The study showed that individuals with high belly fat had a 13% higher risk, and those with high arm fat had an 18% higher risk of these neurodegenerative diseases compared to their counterparts with lower fat levels.

Conversely, higher muscle strength was linked to a 26% lower risk of developing these diseases. The findings suggest targeted interventions to improve body composition could potentially reduce disease risk more effectively than general weight management strategies.