Losing deep belly fat — visceral fat that accumulates around internal organs — is associated with slower brain aging, better memory, and larger brain volume years later. Importantly, it was not overall weight loss but the loss of this “internal” fat that appeared to matter most. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel followed participants in a weight-loss program for 5 to 16 years, comparing changes in body fat with brain health based on MRI scans and cognitive tests. The analysis included hundreds of people, mostly men around 60 years old.
The researchers found that the more visceral fat a person had, the worse they performed on cognitive tests, regardless of body mass index. In contrast, a substantial reduction in visceral fat predicted greater brain volume during long-term follow-up, including larger volumes of gray matter and the hippocampus, a region that plays an important role in memory.
Interestingly, the key “mediator” was not cholesterol or inflammation, but blood sugar control: fasting glucose levels were specifically associated with changes in the brain. This is consistent with the idea that visceral fat may harm the brain primarily through impaired glucose metabolism. The practical takeaway is that protecting the brain as we age may depend more on targeting belly fat through diet and physical activity than simply trying to lower the number on the scale.
Visceral fat, which accumulates around internal organs, has long been considered much more dangerous than subcutaneous fat. It promotes chronic inflammation and is associated with diabetes and heart disease. Brain health is now increasingly being added to the list of areas it may affect. The good news is that visceral fat can be reduced through a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
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