People who are obese and harbor deep belly fat are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease-specific proteins in the brain up to 20 years before the earliest dementia symptoms, a new study suggests.

Researchers have linked a specific type of body fat to the abnormal proteins in the brain that are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease up to 20 years before the earliest symptoms of dementia appear, according to a study being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Dr. Dolatshahi concluded: "Our study showed that higher visceral fat was associated with higher PET levels of the two hallmark pathologic proteins of Alzheimer’s disease - amyloid and tau." The study's lead author has highlighted a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against Alzheimer's disease,

Researchers have discovered that Alzheimer's disease could be detected up to 20 years before the earliest symptoms appear, following a major scientific breakthrough.