Talk by PD Dr. Veronica Witte, MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig

In this talk I will discuss a link between obesity, diet, and brain health, drawing on neuroimaging data from population-based cohorts and interventional trials. Results indicate that a higher body mass index and visceral fat correlate with accelerated brain aging, while interventional data suggest benefits from weight loss and plant-based diets on brain structure and function. In parallel, I like to share exemplary challenges that call for open science and a more holistic approach to study gut-brain interactions. Overall, previous work underlined the intertwined nature of nutrition, metabolism and brain health, advocating for targeted interventions as a means to enhance brain plasticity.