A new study from Arizona State University suggests that the connection between metabolic health and brain health may show up earlier in life than previously understood. In young adults with obesity, researchers found higher inflammation and early signs of cellular stress that are also seen in older adults with cognitive impairment.
One of the biggest findings involved choline, an essential nutrient that supports liver function, inflammation control and the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory. Participants with obesity had lower blood choline levels, and those levels were closely tied to markers that can reflect stress on brain cells.
“This research adds to the growing evidence that choline is a valuable marker of metabolic and brain dysfunction — and reinforces the importance of sufficient daily intake,” said senior author Ramon Velazquez.
The study, published in Aging and Disease, included 30 adults in their 20s and 30s, half with obesity. Blood samples showed a clear pattern: lower choline paired with higher inflammation, greater metabolic stress and elevated neurofilament light chain (NfL), a protein released when neurons are under strain.
To understand the potential long-term significance, the team compared these results with data from older adults with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. The same relationship between low choline and higher NfL appeared in both groups.
Choline is found in eggs, fish, poultry, soy, beans and cruciferous vegetables. National nutrition surveys show that many Americans, especially young adults, don’t get enough.
“Most people don’t realize they aren’t getting enough choline,” said first co-author Wendy Winslow. “Adding choline-rich foods to your routine can help reduce inflammation and support both your body and brain as you age.”
The researchers note that these findings don’t prove choline causes changes in brain health, but they identify an early pattern that may help explain why metabolic stress in young adulthood can shape cognitive health later on.
“In young adults, good metabolic health and adequate choline contribute to neuronal health, laying the groundwork for healthy aging,” said co-author Jessica Judd.
Larger studies are needed, but the work suggests that supporting metabolic health, including getting enough choline, may matter long before memory problems are visible.
This work was supported by the ASU Edson Initiative Seed Grant program and the National Institute on Aging. Additional support came from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute on Aging, the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the ASU Edson Initiative Seed Grant program and a National Institute on Aging T32 fellowship.