Surprising link between a key nutrient, obesity and Alzheimer’s risk

According to IsnaAccording to a new study, a combination of obesity and low levels of a nutrient called choline may play a role in accelerating brain aging and potentially some of the early triggers of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

According to researchers led by a team from Arizona State University (ASU), choline is well known as one of the most critical nutrients for a healthy body, so its deficiency, along with the stresses associated with obesity, may act as warning signs of cognitive decline long before the actual symptoms appear.

“This research adds to the growing body of evidence that choline is a valuable marker for metabolic and brain dysfunction, and reinforces the importance of adequate daily intake because it is essential for human health,” said ASU neurobiologist Ramon Velazquez.

He added: “Several new reports that have been published this month show a greater connection between decreased levels of choline in the blood and behavioral changes, including anxiety and memory impairment, as well as broader metabolic dysfunction.”

The researchers selected 15 obese people with an average age of 33.6 years and compared them to 15 healthy controls, then analyzed key chemical levels and biomarkers in all participants.

Obese people had significant differences, including less circulating choline in their bodies, increased numbers of biomarkers associated with inflammation, and higher levels of neurofilament light (NfL) (a blood protein that indicates neuron damage).

In obese subjects, there was a strong correlation between lower choline and higher NfL, and importantly, the same pattern was observed in postmortem brain tissue analysis of older adults who had died of Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The data aren’t comprehensive enough to prove cause and effect, but the general picture is that obesity, choline, and premature brain aging leading to dementia could all be linked. Choline may be part of the reason obesity is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

“Our results show that in young adults, good metabolic health and adequate choline contribute to neurological health and set the stage for healthy aging,” says Jessica Judd, a behavioral neuroscientist at Arizona State University.

This is the latest study that emphasizes the multitude of variables and factors involved in brain aging and dementia. Untangling the complex knots of cause and effect is a real challenge for scientists, and discoveries like this could shed light on what happens as the brain ages.

More studies are needed to understand the details of this three-way connection between obesity, choline, and neurodegeneration, but researchers suggest that low levels of this nutrient could be an early warning sign of diseases like Alzheimer’s, suggesting that increasing choline levels could act as a preventative measure.

While the liver produces a small amount of choline naturally, our recommended daily intake can be easily managed by eating eggs, fish, chicken, beans, and cruciferous vegetables.

That being said, we already knew this nutrient was important to health, but now there’s another reason to make sure it’s in our diet.

Most people don’t realize they’re not getting enough choline, says Wendy Winslow, a biochemist at Arizona State University. Adding choline-rich foods to your diet can help reduce inflammation and support your body and brain as you age.

This research was published in the journal Aging and Disease.

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