Want your brain to age more slowly? Do this to keep it healthy
Deseret News • • health
Key Points:
- A study presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting found that greater muscle mass protects the brain and slows its aging, while higher amounts of hidden abdominal (visceral) fat accelerate brain aging.
- Researchers used full-body MRI and AI algorithms to analyze muscle volume, visceral fat, and brain structure in 1,164 healthy adults, revealing that a higher visceral-fat-to-muscle ratio is linked to an older-appearing brain.
- The findings suggest that building muscle and reducing hidden belly fat are actionable strategies to maintain brain health and potentially lower the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s.
- Weight-loss drugs like GLP-1 agonists, while effective at reducing body fat, may cause muscle loss; future therapies may focus on
