When the waist widens, risk of dementia rises
By Denise Gellene, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Having a large gut in midlife increases the chance of dementia in old age, according to new research published Wednesday that suggests that abdominal fat is a bigger risk factor than even family history.

The study of 6,583 adults found that people with the highest amount of abdominal fat between the ages of 40 and 45 were about three times more likely to develop dementia than those with the lowest amount.

By contrast, people who have parents or a sibling with Alzheimer's face twice the risk of developing the disease.

The report in the journal Neurology was the latest to show that belly fat can pose serious health risks, even for those who are not obese. Previous research has shown that people with large abdomens face a greater chance of diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

"This ought to be a wake-up call to baby boomers in terms of diet and exercise," said Dr. Sam Gandy, a spokesman for the Alzheimer's Assn. who was not involved in the study. "If they are not frightened enough about heart disease, maybe they will worry about losing their mental function."