Obesity Gene May Be Associated With Dementia

A gene linked to obesity may also be associated with dementia according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles generated 3D maps of over 200 healthy elderly people’s brains and found a pattern of diminished brain volume in people with specific DNA sequence within the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene.

‘We’ve known for some time that there’s a link between obesity in mid life and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. However this study suggests that healthy people who carry a specific DNA sequence associated with obesity could be at a greater risk of developing dementia. A reduction in people’s brain tissue was observed but this wasn’t linked to other obesity-related factors such as cholesterol levels, diabetes or high blood pressure.

‘This is a relatively small study but the findings support the need for more research. One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years but dementia research is desperately under-funded, however with the right investment, it can be defeated.’

Dr Susanne Sorensen
Head of Research
Alzheimer’s Society

Research reference: April Ho et al, University of California, Los Angeles, ‘A commonly carried allele of the obesity-related FTO gene is associated with reduced brain volume in healthy elderly’. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2010.

Source
Alzheimer’s Society