Hormonal
Metabolically healthy obesity may confer a lower risk of dementia compared to lean obesity because healthy adipose tissue safely stores neurotoxic persistent organic pollutants (POPs), preventing them from reaching the brain.
For those with obesity, maintaining metabolic health (normal blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipids) is crucial. Healthy fat tissue may act as a 'sink' for environmental toxins, potentially protecting the brain. However, this does not negate the benefits of weight loss if you are metabolically unhealthy. Focus on metabolic health markers and reducing exposure to environmental toxins.
In contrast, metabolically healthy obese people may have a low risk of dementia because the safe storage of POPs in adipose tissue would decrease the amount of POPs reaching the brain.
Why this rating
This is a theoretical hypothesis derived from existing observational data on POPs and dementia; no direct experimental proof is provided in this paper.
Source
Intensive weight loss and cognition: The dynamics of persistent organic pollutants in adipose tissue can explain the unexpected results from the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) study
Yu‐Mi Lee et al. · Alzheimer s & Dementia · 2020
DOI 10.1002/alz.12065
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