University College London scientists have discovered that men with belly fat suffer from cognitive decline about ten years earlier than women.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) indicates that this study included 34,000 adults aged 45-82 years who suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, all of which are factors that contribute to the development of dementia. The researchers obtained all data on the participants' health from the UK Biobank.

In addition, the researchers measured the volume and weight of the participants' brains and calculated their abdominal fat mass. They were able to evaluate the effect of cardiovascular disease and obesity on brain neurodegeneration - the gradual loss of nerve cells that can lead to dementia.

The results showed that men who suffer from abdominal obesity begin to decline in brain size and function at the age of 55-74 years, while this is observed in women who suffer from excess weight at the age of 65-74 years. In addition, the relationship between increased belly fat and decreased brain size was more pronounced in men than in women.