Researchers have long warned that visceral fat, the type stored deep around the abdominal organs, carries more health risks than the fat found under the skin.
New findings presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting point to another possible consequence: accelerated brain aging.
According to RSNA’s presentation summary, scientists examined more than 1,100 healthy adults, most in their mid-50s, using whole-body MRI scans.
The scans allowed researchers to quantify muscle volume, visceral fat, and what an AI-based model interpreted as the biological “age” of the brain.
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What the imaging revealed
The research team reported a consistent pattern. Participants with a higher proportion of visceral fat relative to muscle tended to show older-appearing brains on imaging.
Fat beneath the skin did not show the same relationship.
Reporting from Medical News Today cites study author Dr. Cyrus Raji, who noted that visceral fat is metabolically active and associated with inflammation, factors that could contribute to changes in brain structure.
Muscle mass appeared to play a different role. Individuals with more muscle generally showed younger-looking brain patterns.
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Geriatrics specialists interviewed by Medical News Today highlighted that muscle supports metabolic stability, which may help buffer against processes linked to cognitive decline.
Implications for long-term brain health
Although the findings have not yet undergone peer review, clinicians say the results reinforce long-standing advice: maintaining strong muscles and limiting visceral fat may support healthier aging overall.
Experts told Medical News Today that the study offers imaging-based evidence connecting body composition to brain health in a tangible way, one that patients may find motivating.
The research does not prove that changing body composition directly slows cognitive aging, but it points toward lifestyle strategies that may help.
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Regular physical activity, strength training, and dietary choices that reduce visceral fat could become increasingly relevant as scientists continue exploring modifiable risk factors for dementia.
Sources: Medical News Today, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
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