Doctor Says Obesity Can Age the Brain and Worsen Memory

Forgetfulness in people in their early 40s may not be caused only by stress, according to Taiwanese physician Liu Hao-wen. He said excess abdominal fat could also contribute to what feels like premature brain aging.

Liu, director of the Weiermei Clinic, made the comments on Threads. He described people who repeatedly forget things and ask, “Is my brain degenerating early?” His explanation linked obesity with memory loss and brain fog.

The article cites a 2026 Virginia Tech study that received a national biotechnology award. Researchers examined K63, a protein in the hippocampus, the brain region associated with memory. Under normal conditions, K63 levels fall during learning and memory formation.

In the study, young mice fed a high-fat diet became obese, and their brain K63 levels rose sharply. The levels reportedly resembled those found in extremely old mice. The article presents this as evidence of a molecular pathway connecting obesity with accelerated brain aging.

It says weight loss should not be viewed only as a matter of appearance. Cutting refined sugar and saturated fat, while building lean muscle and reducing visceral fat, may help support a younger, healthier brain.

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Is my brain degenerating early?