Story perspectives

Visceral Fat Loss Slows Brain Atrophy, Boosts Cognition

5/5/2026

Summary

Shai: Brain Preservation

Researchers led by Prof. Iris Shai found that lowering visceral fat over 5–16 years slowed brain atrophy.
The study tracked 533 adults with repeated abdominal and brain MRI scans.
Sustained visceral-fat loss preserved brain volume, gray matter and hippocampal occupancy, raised MoCA scores, and showed no benefit for subcutaneous fat loss or BMI, independent of weight loss.
Fasting glucose and HbA1c predicted brain-structure changes, indicating glucose control as the mediator.

Summary

Shai: MRI Study

Researchers merged data from dietary trials—DIRECT, CASCADE, CENTRAL and DIRECT-PLUS to track participants for up to 16 years.
They used abdominal MRI scans because imaging is the only precise way to measure visceral fat, with no blood-test markers.
Led by Professor Iris Shai, the largest study partnered with Ben-Gurion University, Harvard, Leipzig and Tulane, and aims to develop biomarkers to replace MRI, warning that weight-loss injections may cut muscle mass.

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Shai: Brain Preservation

Researchers led by Prof. Iris Shai found that lowering visceral fat over 5–16 years slowed brain atrophy.
The study tracked 533 adults with repeated abdominal and brain MRI scans.
Sustained visceral-fat loss preserved brain volume, gray matter and hippocampal occupancy, raised MoCA scores, and showed no benefit for subcutaneous fat loss or BMI, independent of weight loss.
Fasting glucose and HbA1c predicted brain-structure changes, indicating glucose control as the mediator.

1 / 2