In a study published in the journal GeroScience, a new study from Ben-Gurion University of Negev (Israel) said that scientists monitored the effects of weight loss in young mice and middle-aged mice who were obese. The results showed that in both groups, weight loss helped improve blood sugar control and metabolic restoration - a positive sign for overall health.
However, it is noteworthy that in the middle-aged mouse group, the weight loss process increases inflammation in the hypothalamus - the brain area that plays a role in controlling appetite, energy consumption and many important life functions.
Researchers discovered this inflammation through molecular analysis and microglia cell images - the brain's "immune barrier". Although the inflammatory response only lasted for a few weeks and then gradually decreased, encephalitis has been shown to be linked to memory decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
This raises concerns that, in middle age, losing weight too quickly or inappropriately can create more "pressure" for the brain, even when metabolic indicators are improved.
According to the main author of the study, Alon Zemer (Israel), weight loss is still very necessary for obese people, but methods that have been effective in young people should not be mechanically applied. “We need to better understand the impact of weight loss on the brain in middle age to avoid unwanted consequences,” he emphasized.
Scientists also believe that in the future, more research is needed to find a weight loss method that both helps improve metabolic health and protects the brain when people enter middle age and old age.
