Obesity and Alzheimer’s linked through early metabolic disruptions

By 2030, the population in the United States aged 65 and older is expected to reach 71 million or about 20% of Americans. This growth is likely to increase the burden of age-related diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), affecting about 1 in 9 adults over 65.

At the same time, obesity has become increasingly common, including among older adults, where prevalence has nearly doubled in recent decades. Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic disease, and growing evidence now links it to brain health and dementia risk.

A review from Florida Atlantic University, published in the journal Cells, examines the growing biological links between obesity and AD, highlighting how disruptions in metabolism can influence brain health. It explores the complex pathways through which adipose tissue and whole-body metabolism interact with the central nervous system, shedding light on how these processes may contribute to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

The authors synthesize evidence showing that obesity and AD share overlapping metabolic disturbances that arise early in disease progression – often well before clear clinical symptoms appear.