How is the obesity epidemic amongst teenagers going to impact their ability to stave off Alzheimer’s?
Dr. Fortanasce: It is estimated that 50% of children and teenagers are overweight or obese. The number of overweight and obese children has doubled since 1980. 70% of obese teenagers will be obese as adults. Obesity is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Obese women have three times the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. At 70 years old, 20% of women have significant memory loss. This may be 60% in those who are obese at the same age. Fat begets fat. Fat cells in the abdomen omentum are alive. [The omentum is a layer of tissue under the stomach muscles that stores fat.] They stimulate insulin production; insulin stimulates glucose conversion to fat and turns off two longevity genes, causing ageing. Fat causes inflammation and destroys brain cells. On the contrary, lean muscle burns three to six times the calories as fat. Muscle use stimulates growth hormone and testosterone. Yes, couch potatoes; there is another reason to be one of those lean, good-looking people. They lose wei
