Study: Low choline levels in obese young adults may raise Alzheimer’s risk

Low blood levels of choline crucial for liver function and controlling inflammation could be among the various ways through which obesity can speed up cognitive decline and increase the risk of Alzheimers disease according to a studyStudies have found that high blood pressure is a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment which usually precedes Alzheimers disease in which speech and thought processes steadily decline with ageThe researchers from Arizona State University said conditions such as obesity high blood pressure and insulin resistance can strain the bodys blood vessels and metabolic systems with stress building up over time speeding up cognitive decline and ones risk of Alzheimers disease The study published in the journal Aging and Disease looked at 30 young adults half with obesity and half of healthy weight aged in their 20s and 30sFasting blood samples were collected for measuring circulating choline inflammatory cytokines insulin and glucose levels liverrelated enzymes other metabolic measures and neurofilament light chain NfL a protein released when a nerve cell is damagedThe participants were seen to have unusually low blood levels of choline a key nutrient and organic compound crucial for liver function inflammation control and longterm brain healthThe authors found that obese participants showed reduced circulating choline correlating with higher body fat liver dysfunction markers increased insulin resistance and elevated inflammatory cytokinesThe NfL levels were higher in obese participants and negatively correlated with circulating choline levels findings that the researchers said were consistent with those observed in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimers diseaseThe findings reveal links between obesity low choline insulin resistance systemic inflammation and NfL key risk markers for Alzheimers disease the authors saidThis research adds to the growing evidence that choline is a valuable marker of metabolic and brain dysfunctioniquestand reinforces the importance of sufficient daily intake as it is essential for human health lead researcher Ramon Velazquez from the Arizona State Universitys Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center saidSeveral new reports published this month further link reduced blood choline levels to behavioural changes including anxiety and memory impairment as well as a broader metabolic dysfunction Velazquez saidMonitoring such markers in early adulthood may be useful for assessing future Alzheimers risk in individuals prone to obesity the researchers saidThey added that the studys sample size was modest and that a larger more diverse cohort may have captured broader population trendsThe study also did not include cognitive assessments though higher NfL levels were observed and has been associated with cognitive decline in nondemented adults in previous research the team addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever