The bariatric surgerymay have positive effects on brain activity in patients who benefit from it, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The work was carried out on a panel of 17 obese women, aged 30 to 50 years and presenting a BMI very high (morbid obesity). Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, found that obesity surgery promotes brain metabolism in areas such as planning, strategy, and organization.
Six months after being operated on for their weight problem, the participants underwent neuropsychological tests. They were compared to the results of the same tests before their surgery. Verdict: The patients increased their brain metabolism in two areas in particular, namely the posterior cingulate gyrus and the right posterior lobe of the cerebellum, two areas involved in Alzheimer’s disease and motor coordination, respectively.
Academics suggest a link between weight loss and brain performance: “Our research suggests that the brain is another organ that benefits from weight loss induced by bariatric surgery,” summarizes the study, reported by the Daily Mail .
With obese women reporting stronger brain activity before their operation without cognitive gain, the researchers suggest that obesity may force the brain to work harder to achieve the same level of cognitive performance.
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