From the Journals

Medical Oddities: When Body Fat Gets to Your Head

From colds to cognition, these studies show how everyday science—viruses, fat, bones, herbs, even AI— meets fine the print.

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Research using whole-body MRI on nearly 26,000 UK Biobank participants reveals that the location of body fat significantly impacts brain health. It identifies six distinct fat distribution patterns, notably the pancreatic-predominant and 'skinny-fat' patterns, which correlate with decreased brain volumes, increased white matter lesions, and impaired cognitive abilities. These patterns also show a higher risk of neurologic disorders including mood issues and strokes. This suggests that the spatial distribution of fat is more critical for neurologic health than weight alone.

Original Source(s)

Medical Oddities: When Body Fat Gets to Your Head

From colds to cognition, these studies show how everyday science—viruses, fat, bones, herbs, even AI— meets fine the print.

  • by Teraya Smith

  • January 28, 2026

  • 5 min

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