Big Bellies Linked to Alzheimers disease

[ravenscape]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/26/AR2008032602253.html?hpid=topnews


People who have big bellies in their 40s are much more likely to get Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia in their 70s, according to new research that links the middle-age spread to fading minds for the first time.
The study of more than 6,000 people found the more fat they had in their guts in their early to mid-40s the greater their chances of becoming forgetful or confused or showing other signs of senility as they aged. Those who had the most impressive midsections faced more than twice the risk of the leanest.
Surprisingly, a sizable stomach seems to increase the risk even among those who are not obese, or even overweight, the researchers reported in a paper published online today by the journal Neurology (http://www.neurology.org/).


Amerka is hosed, I tell you. Hosed!

Though obesity and alzheimers have been linked in the past, the interesting thing about this study is that even people with healthy BMI's (body mass indexes) who have a large-ish belly are at greater risk.

[Goldie]

Interesting, Raven.

Even very thin people, if not living a heathy lifestyle of proper diet and exercise can store fat around their organs, which can cause numerous problems.

So, I guess this goes for those who THINK they can eat anything they want and they are immune.
No slacking.
This is something we can prevent.
I am certainly going to take it to heart.

[Alethias]

So...If I lose my big belly I reduce my risk of alzheimers? Or are the facts that I seem to be genetically predisposed to have a big belly(all my siblings and my parents and grandparents had big bellies in this age range) and that I seem to be genetically predisposed to be at risk for senile dementia(my dad, my grandmother, 3 aunts, some great-aunts and some cousins all had senile dementia before they died) linked to some other factor causing both.

When I read articles like this I never know if the link is causal or incidental or if they are both results of some other factor.

And as you may be able to guess by my paragraph above, this is an issue of intense concern for me.

[Ray Moscow]

Crap! Time to hit the road/gym/dojo/back garden for some serious exercise.

[Susannah]

So...If I lose my big belly I reduce my risk of alzheimers? Or are the facts that I seem to be genetically predisposed to have a big belly(all my siblings and my parents and grandparents had big bellies in this age range) and that I seem to be genetically predisposed to be at risk for senile dementia(my dad, my grandmother, 3 aunts, some great-aunts and some cousins all had senile dementia before they died) linked to some other factor causing both.

When I read articles like this I never know if the link is causal or incidental or if they are both results of some other factor.

And as you may be able to guess by my paragraph above, this is an issue of intense concern for me.

Correlations do not prove anything. Nor does one study. And the quote does not say whether it was a datamine, or a real study. I couldn't get the article, but I wouldn't expect a study to be focussing on "Does a fat belly 30 years back correlate with Alzheimer's?" It was more likely one of those weird correspondences that show up at the bottom of a tally sheet of many different questions, not aimed in particular at this result, nor controlled to eliminate confounding factors. Suggestive, nothing more.

Nor does increased relative risk translate to "I'm gonna get this!"

In my family, on my mother's side, every single one of her generation has either died of Alzheimer's, or has it now. All 5 of them. And, I think, my grandmother, as well, except that they called it "senile dementia" back then. And all are slim, even skinny people, with flat little bellies.

Of course, anecdotes aren't evidence, either. But there's more involved than a bit of fat around the middle.

[Zebulon]

Correlations do not prove anything.

Exactly. It could well be that a third factor, such as lack of activity, contributes both to a big belly and dementia.

[Alethias]

Yeah, I was looking for the right word, and you reminded me of it Susannah. Thanks!

Correlated factors are a different matter entirely than causative.

The article seemed to be trying to imply that it's causative, in order to induce people like me to exercise more. If it's correlated and not necessarily caused, more exercise may or may not have an impact.

That's what was bugging me about the whole thing.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics indeed.

Yeah I know my diet isn't the most healthy, and I know that I need to lose weight. But I'd rather be told the truth in the meantime and not have someone lie to me with statistics to get me to do it.

[Zebulon]

There's a world of difference between the way research is reported in real science journals, and the way the stories are oversimplified and sensationalized in the popular press. Science journalism in this country is abysmal.

[Matty]

dont worry. Just be aware that 76.91% of all statistics are made up on the spot, and hit the gym for as long as you can remember how to get there.


seriously, what Susannah said. I have major issues with data mined correlative studies, they are a potentially useful way to make use of the vast amounts of available existing data, granted, but they rarely tell you anything about causation and even highlighting tenuous correlations can cause greater implications than the study is worth (i'm thinkiong immunisation and autism here, not that there was even much of a correlation in that example. )


Always bear in mind that this is strictly talking a legit correlation
http://www.americanthinker.com/piratesarecool4.jpg
and inferring that the decline in privateer numbers caused global warming, is, laughable as it seems, as fair a comparison as many other hints at causation in such studies.

http://www.americanthinker.com/piratesarecool4.jpg

[JoeMeert]

what? What is old timers and what does it have to do with a pink belly?

Cheers

Joe Meert

[kiwimac]

Well as I am clinically obese, I guess I'd better say goodbye now before I for........

[spikepipsqueak]

Hi,

Purest speculation.... but my guess is that excess fat accumulation around abdominal organs, and production of fatty plaques which collect in the brain tissues. are both the result of improper metabolisation of fats.

Again, speculation, but exercise should help and not loading the liver too much should make a difference.

I'm cutting down on fats, as of now, but I'm damned if I'm giving up my glass of wine with dinner!