Share on PinterestNew research links heart disease and obesity as factors for earlier cognitive decline in men. Maskot/Getty Images
- Men with cardiovascular disease risk factors, including obesity, may face earlier brain health decline compared to women, with the most pronounced effects occurring a decade sooner.
- A long-term study highlights that men ages 55 to 74 are particularly vulnerable, while women are most at risk between 65 and 74.
- The research links these risk factors to reduced gray matter in brain regions critical for memory, emotional regulation, and sensory processing.
Cardiovascular risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and smoking are already known to significantly increase the likelihood of developing dementia.
However, the optimal timing for intervention to prevent associated neurodegeneration — and whether this timing varies between men and women — remains uncertain.
To investigate, researchers analyzed data from 34,425 participants in the UK Biobank who had undergone both abdominal and brain scans.
The participants’ average age was 63, ranging from 45 to 82 years.
Their study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, noted that the regions of the brain most affected by these changes include those responsible for auditory processing, visual perception, emotional regulation, and memory.
Cardiovascular risk and its impact on brain health
Cardiovascular disease risk was evaluated using the Framingham Risk Score, which considers factors such as age, blood lipids, systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading that reflects the pressure during heart contractions), use of blood pressure medication, smoking and diabetes.
Changes in brain structure and volume were measured using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), a neuroimaging technique.
This method examined the impact of cardiovascular risk, abdominal fat and visceral adipose tissue (fat surrounding internal organs) on brain neurodegeneration.
The analysis revealed that higher levels of abdominal and visceral fat were linked to reduced grey matter volume in the brain for both men and women.
However, the influence of cardiovascular risk and obesity on brain neurodegeneration began a decade earlier in men than in women and persisted for two decades.
Cardiovascular risk and obesity linked to brain volume loss
High cardiovascular risk and obesity contributed to a gradual reduction in brain volume over several decades, following a bell-shaped curve.
The risk was lower for younger individuals (under 55) and older individuals (75+), although the researchers noted fewer participants in these age groups.
The brain regions most affected were the temporal lobes, located in the cerebral cortex, the brain’s outer layer.
These areas play a critical role in processing auditory, visual, and emotional information, as well as memory — functions that are among the first to decline in the early stages of dementia.
The broad effect of cardiovascular risk on different parts of the brain shows that it can harm many aspects of thinking and memory.
This means that taking care of manageable cardiovascular risks, like obesity, is very important for preventing and treating brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Targeting these risk factors before the age of 55 could play a vital role in preventing neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s.
At the same time, this could reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.
Repurposed medications could help prevent Alzheimer’s
One potential approach could involve repurposing medications used for obesity and type 2 diabetes for Alzheimer’s treatment. In addition, certain drugs currently used to manage cardiovascular conditions have shown promise in this context.
This observational study cannot establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship.
The findings have several limitations, including the lack of specific biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease in the UK Biobank data.
However, the results suggest that it’s important to start managing heart health risks and obesity about ten years earlier in men than in women to get the best chance of preventing brain diseases and memory problems.
Jonathan Rasouli, MD, of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, who was not involved in this research, told MNT that “this study shows how heart health and weight affect the brain, especially as people age.”
“[The study] found that men’s brains start showing signs of damage from things like high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes earlier than women’s—about 10 years sooner. This means that men in their 40s and 50s need to pay closer attention to their health to prevent problems like memory loss or Alzheimer’s later in life.”
— Jonathan Rasouli, MD
“The researchers also found that these risks aren’t the same for everyone. Women, for example, are more likely to experience brain health issues related to these risks later, usually after menopause. This tells us that men and women might need different strategies to keep their brains healthy,” Rasouli explained.
Mark A. Anton, MD, FACS, medical director at Slimz Weightloss, who was also not involved in this research, said that this “research on cardiovascular risk and obesity impacting grey matter volume loss earlier in males is intriguing.”
“It highlights the importance of addressing obesity and cardiovascular health proactively, particularly in men, to potentially mitigate early cognitive decline,” Anton said.
How men can protect their heart health
“What makes this study stand out is how it looks at a huge group of people and uses advanced brain imaging to show these patterns clearly. It reminds us that simple things like managing weight, blood pressure, and other health factors can make a big difference for the brain.”
— Jonathan Rasouli, MD
In conclusion, Rasouli highlighted several key takeaways, notably that it’s never too early to prioritize heart and overall health.
For men, paying attention to their health in their 40s and 50s can significantly contribute to protecting brain function as they age.
Meanwhile, women may benefit from focusing on their health more closely after menopause.
Simple lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing blood pressure, are practical steps anyone can take to support brain health.
These habits not only strengthen the heart but also reduce the risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
Adopting healthier choices earlier in life increases the likelihood of staying mentally sharp and independent in later years, emphasizing the interconnectedness of heart and brain health.
