Study links obesity to faster Alzheimer’s biomarkers
Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine reported at the RSNA meeting in Chicago that Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers increased 95% faster over five years in people with obesity compared to non‑obese peers, based on 407 participants in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. PET scans in the same cohort showed greater amyloid plaque buildup in those with obesity, suggesting higher Alzheimer’s disease burden over time. The authors, Drs. Soheil Mohammadi and Cyrus Raji, said the results underscore the role of whole‑body health in brain health and called for future prevention trials, potentially including GLP‑1 drugs earlier in life.
📌 Key Facts
- Presented Dec. 2, 2025 at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting in Chicago
- Cohort: 407 ADNI participants tracked for five years with blood tests and PET imaging
- Result: Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers rose 95% faster in individuals with obesity; PET showed greater amyloid accumulation
📊 Relevant Data
According to 2017-2018 NHANES data, the age-adjusted obesity prevalence among US adults aged 20 and over is 42.2% for non-Hispanic White, 49.6% for non-Hispanic Black, 17.4% for non-Hispanic Asian, and 44.8% for Hispanic. In 2023, the US population is approximately 58% non-Hispanic White, 12% non-Hispanic Black, 6% Asian, and 19% Hispanic.
Overweight & Obesity Statistics — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Socioeconomic environments, obesogenic food environments, racism, chronic stress, weight stigma, geographic barriers to care, and insurance limitations contribute to higher obesity prevalence among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults compared to non-Hispanic White adults.
Disparities in Access and Quality of Obesity Care — PMC - NIH
Older Black Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older White Americans, and older Hispanic Americans are about one and one-half times as likely, according to 2020 data. In 2023, the US population is approximately 58% non-Hispanic White, 12% non-Hispanic Black, and 19% Hispanic.
Race, Ethnicity, and Alzheimer's — Alzheimer's Association
The APOE4 gene variant confers a threefold increase in Alzheimer’s risk for Caucasians but has a weaker effect in African-Americans, with lower tau levels observed in African-American APOE4 carriers compared to Caucasians.
Racial differences in Alzheimer’s disease unveiled — Washington University School of Medicine