New research suggests obesity may influence Alzheimer’s disease through biological changes that extend beyond the brain, according to ScienceDaily.
The study, led by Houston Methodist researchers, examined how changes in body fat tied to obesity may send harmful signals to the brain. Those signals appear to disrupt the brain’s immune system and contribute to damage associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers identified phosphatidylethanolamines, or PEs, as a possible link between obesity and Alzheimer’s. The study found that obesity increases these fat molecules in body tissue, and they can then be carried in tiny particles through the body and into the brain.
Once in the brain, those particles may interfere with communication between brain cells, weaken immune defenses, and encourage amyloid proteins to build up. Amyloid accumulation is one of the major biological features of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the study.
The researchers also reported that restoring a healthier balance of PEs reduced disruption in lipid regulation and improved brain function and cognitive performance in disease models. They said more research is needed before any PE-based treatment could be tested in people.
