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# Visceral fats may raise risk of Alzheimer's disease
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/alzheimer_s_disease_0103120726/
- Published: 2012-01-03T08:23:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:17:45.000Z
- Description: Tufts researchers followed 840 volunteers averaging age 76 for about 13 years, during which 159 developed dementia, including 125 cases of Alzheimer's. They report that elevated adiponectin, a hormone from visceral fat, was associated with increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's in women.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Disease, Health News, Alzheimer's, #vivvo-import

by Stephen Lau

Tuesday Jan 3, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Researchers from Tufts University said that a hormone named adiponectin derived from visceral fat is associated with development of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD) in women.

The study was conducted for an average of 13 years on 840 volunteers, age about 76\. The researchers accessed the signs of the development of Alzheimer disease and all-cause dementia, namely, glucose, insulin, C reactive protein glycated albumin, and lipoprotein linked to phospholipase A2.

During the follow-up, 159 patients developed dementia including 125 cases of Alzheimer disease.

"An additional potential factor that may contribute to the onset of AD and all-cause dementia is adiponectin. Adiponectin is a hormone derived from visceral fat, which sensitizes the body to insulin, has anti-inflammatory properties, and plays a role in the metabolism of glucose and lipids," said Thomas M. van Himbergen, Ph.D., from Tufts University.

It is estimated that the number of people affected by dementia worldwide would double over the next 20 years. In the U.S., it is believed that about 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease. And Alzheimer disease is the worse form of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of all cases of dementia.

"Our data, however, indicate that elevated adiponectin level was associated with an increased risk of dementia and AD in women," noted the author.

"One of the main features of adiponectin is that it has been shown to play a role in the sensitization of insulin and therefore may become a therapeutic target for the treatment of T2D (type 2 diabetes mellitus). Surprisingly, a higher adiponectin level was found to be a predictor of all-cause and vascular mortality. In concurrence with the mortality findings, the current investigation shows that an elevated adiponectin level is also an independent predictor for all-cause dementia and AD in women.”

What may help prevent dementia or Alzheimer's disease include drinking green tea, antioxidants like vitamin C or ascorbic acid, cinnamon extract, eating fish or omega-3 fatty acids, Mediterranean diet, vitamin D, drinking coffee, vitamin E, polyphenols, caloric restriction, curry, apple juice, B vitamins, plant-based diet, and high intake of amino acid methionine.

What may boost the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's include high intake of iron, smoking, depression, physical inactivity, vitamin D deficiency, and sugary beverages among other things.