Study reveals body trait linked to younger, healthier brain - Video

Researchers have discovered a strong link between body composition and brain health, revealing that people with more muscle and less deep abdominal (visceral) fat tend to have brains that appear biologically younger.

This important finding, presented at the 2025 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting, brings new insights into how muscle and hidden belly fat influence brain aging and the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's.

The study involved 1,164 healthy adults (average age around 55, 52% women) from multiple sites who underwent whole-body MRI scans. These scans measured muscle mass, visceral fat (fat around internal organs), and subcutaneous fat (fat just under the skin). An advanced AI algorithm then estimated the biological age of participants’ brains based on structural imaging. Results showed a clear pattern: those with higher muscle volume tended to have younger-looking brains, while a higher ratio of visceral fat to muscle correlated with older, more aged brains. Interestingly, subcutaneous fat had no significant effect on brain age, highlighting that hidden belly fat is the major concern for brain health.

Visceral fat contributes to inflammation and metabolic stress in the body-both accelerating brain aging-whereas muscle supports metabolic resilience and hormonal balance, protecting brain structure. This combination means that having more muscle and less visceral fat creates a healthier biological environment, slowing brain aging. The study’s lead author, Dr. Cyrus Raji, emphasized that these MRI-based findings provide objective evidence linking body composition directly to brain health, beyond traditional measures like BMI.

These results have meaningful implications for public health and interventions. Programs focused on building muscle while reducing visceral fat could become valuable tools to preserve cognitive function. This is especially relevant as GLP-1 weight loss medications like Ozempic, which are effective in fat loss but may also reduce muscle, gain popularity. Future therapies might aim to selectively target visceral fat while safeguarding muscle to optimize brain health outcomes.

In summary, this groundbreaking research shows that maintaining a lean body with strong muscles and minimal hidden belly fat supports a younger, healthier brain, offering hope for combating age-related cognitive decline and dementia.

REFERENCE: Radiological Society of North America. "The body trait that helps keep your brain young." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 November 2025. .