Brain Health
Study links abdominal muscle contractions to subtle brain motion that may help circulate cerebrospinal fluid
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Penn State researchers report that tightening the abdominal muscles can transmit pressure through a vein network along the spine, causing the brain to shift slightly inside the skull in mice. The team says computer simulations suggest this motion could help drive cerebrospinal fluid flow that is thought to support waste removal, offering one possible mechanical explanation for why everyday movement and exercise are associated with brain health.
Where fat is stored in the body—not only how much—is linked to brain structure and cognition, according to a large MRI study of nearly 26,000 UK Biobank participants. Researchers reported that two fat distribution profiles—one marked by high pancreatic fat and another often described as “skinny fat,” with high fat relative to muscle despite a less-obese appearance—were associated with gray-matter loss, faster brain aging and poorer cognitive outcomes.
Imeripotiwa na AI Imethibitishwa ukweli
Weight loss reversed obesity-related glucose problems in both young and mid-aged mice, but researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev report that, in mid-aged animals, early weight loss coincided with a temporary rise in inflammation-related changes in the hypothalamus, a brain region involved in appetite and energy regulation.