Researchers at Houston Methodist Hospital report in a new study that fat tissue in obese people releases extracellular vesicles, or cellular messengers, that signal the brain to produce amyloid beta plaques, a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease.
These vesicles differ in fat content in obese individuals compared to lean individuals, and the type and level of fat in them can affect the rate at which these plaques accumulate.
Researchers believe that targeting these vesicles could be an effective strategy for preventing or treating Alzheimer’s in people at risk.
These findings are an important step in understanding the link between obesity and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
