Excess Visceral fat's effect on cognition "The scientists found that an increase in the type of fat wrapped around the internal organs—known as visceral fat—is associated with poorer performance in cognitive tests of memory, executive function, processing speed, and attention.
When the scientists conducted a deeper dive into the relationship between body fat and cognition, using statistical analysis of genetic data from global databases, they found that a higher body mass index (BMI) and BMI-adjusted waist-to-hip ratio were also linked to a fall in cognitive performance.
NTU LKCMedicine's Professor John Chambers, senior author of the study and HELIOS study's lead investigator, said, "With dementia expected to afflict 78 million people in 2030, and 139 million people by 2050, understanding and addressing the determinants of cognitive function is a major public health priority."
Scientists find link between excess visceral fat and cognitive performance