Scientists from Capital Medical University in China found that people with Alzheimer’s disease, on average, had significantly smaller arm, waist, calf and thigh circumferences and a lower body mass index than people without the disease. Research results published In the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
During the research, scientists collected data on the physical health, weight, height, arm circumference, waist, calves and thighs of 266 volunteers. Of these, 121 had cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease, 73 were healthy, and 72 had mild cognitive impairment.
It turned out that people with Alzheimer’s disease, on average, had significantly smaller arm, waist, calf and thigh circumferences and a lower body mass index than healthy volunteers. Lower waist circumference was associated with lower levels of amyloid β protein (Aβ) and higher concentrations of phosphorylated tau (P-tau) and total tau (T-tau) in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with significantly reduced cognitive abilities.
It is generally accepted in the scientific community that β-amyloid and tau proteins are the cause of Alzheimer’s disease because they can form plaques in brain structures and disrupt the functioning of neurons.
Scientists have suggested that smaller arm, waist, calf and thigh circumference is associated with the body’s use of skeletal muscle as a source of nutrition in response to a prolonged state of negative energy balance during Alzheimer’s disease. They added that it is likely that muscle mass in the body will gradually decrease as the disease progresses.
existed before to create A new cause of age-related diseases.