Recent research suggests that waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), a measure for abdominal fat, may play a pivotal role in predicting brain and cognitive health in older age. This measurement, derived from a person's waist and hip circumference, has increasingly been examined as a potential replacement for the traditionally used Body Mass Index (BMI). With its ability to more accurately gauge abdominal fat, WHR emerges as a critical factor in assessing health risks and cognitive function as individuals age.
Studies have shown that a lower WHR during midlife could be linked to improved brain and cognitive health in later years. In contrast, a higher WHR has been associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. This link underscores the importance of focusing on WHR not only as a measure of physical health but also as a potential predictor of mental well-being.
One of the primary reasons WHR is gaining attention is its strong predictive capability regarding various health risks. Unlike BMI, which only considers overall body mass, WHR provides a more precise evaluation of central obesity—a major risk factor for chronic diseases. It serves as a screening tool to assess an individual's risk for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. Furthermore, WHR is effective in predicting the risk of metabolic syndrome, which encompasses a cluster of conditions that heighten the risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
“Understanding how lifestyle factors influence brain health is essential, as it can lead to preventive strategies that reduce the risk of cognitive decline,” she explained.
In recent years, WHR has emerged as a strong predictor of health risks associated with abdominal fat. It is also utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of weight loss interventions and as a tool for healthcare professionals to develop targeted interventions aimed at reducing these risks. The measurement's utility extends to being a predictor of mortality risk, emphasizing its significance in clinical and preventive healthcare settings.
“It’s never too late to make changes or to reap the rewards from those changes,” Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN stated.
Research findings have highlighted the association between higher abdominal fat during midlife and lower cognitive performance scores across several domains such as fluency, episodic memory, working memory, and executive function.
“Our study found that higher abdominal fat in midlife was linked to lower cognitive performance scores across several domains, including fluency, episodic memory, working memory, and executive function. This suggests that interventions aimed at reducing abdominal fat could preserve cognitive abilities essential for daily functioning and decision-making in older age,” Daria E. A. Jensen, DPhil remarked.
The link between diet quality and brain connectivity has also been emphasized in recent studies. Researchers have noted the significant impact that lifestyle choices, particularly diet and managing abdominal fat, can have on brain health and cognitive function as individuals age.
“This study highlights the significant impact that lifestyle choices, particularly diet and managing abdominal fat, can have on brain health and cognitive function as we age. The association between better diet quality and enhanced brain connectivity, as well as the negative impact of higher WHR on cognitive functions, underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Molly Rapozo, RDN.
With March being National Nutrition Month under the theme "Food Connects Us," the focus on food's role in connecting us to our culture, bodies, and each other is more pertinent than ever.
“It’s National Nutrition Month, the theme is ‘Food Connects Us’ — food connects us to our culture, to our bodies, to each other. When we make positive choices for our body, we’re making positive choices for our brain,” Monique Richard emphasized.
This new perspective on WHR underscores its potential beyond traditional measures like BMI. By offering insights into how WHR affects brain health over time, research is paving the way for preventive strategies that could mitigate cognitive decline in aging populations.
“This important finding highlights the critical role of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet quality and WHR management, in enhancing brain connectivity, particularly in the hippocampus — a region vital for memory and learning,” Daria E. A. Jensen pointed out.
Leave a Reply