Weight loss is usually considered a good thing, unexpected and extreme weight loss can be a sign of something in your body going very wrong. There could be some underlying issues that are causing your body to pull weight and nutrition from your muscles and body fat to keep you going. As you grow old, your limbs grow weaker, and same for your muscles, so you do lose some weight as you age, but losing a lot of it too quickly could be a sign of something much worse, Dementia. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open 2025 Cardiometabolic Trajectories Preceding Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Individuals, has identified potential early indicators of dementia, including significant weight loss and specific digestive changes, appearing years before noticeable cognitive decline.

The study showed that people who later got dementia had their Body Mass Index, or BMI, go down faster than those who stayed healthy. BMI is a way to see if someone's weight is healthy for their height. This drop in BMI started happening many years before they were told they had dementia, sometimes as early as 11 years ago. Also, these people often started with a lower BMI to begin with. So, even though everyone's weight might change a little as they get older, the people who developed dementia had a much bigger and faster weight loss.

What Are Some Other Indicators Of Dementia?

Along with their BMI, the size of their waist also changed. People who ended up with dementia had smaller waist sizes, and this difference was noticeable about 10 years before they were diagnosed. This means that their bodies were changing in ways that showed up long before they or their doctors noticed any problems. So, not only was there weight loss, but also a loss of abdominal fat. This measurement is important because fat around the waist can be related to other health issues.

The study also found changes in their blood. Specifically, the "good" cholesterol, called HDL, went up in people who developed dementia. This increase happened about five years before they were diagnosed. It's tricky because HDL is usually seen as a good thing for your heart. But in this case, it seems like it might be a sign of changes happening in the brain. Scientists are still trying to understand why this happens.

Weight Loss Doesn’t Cause Dementia, Dementia Causes Weight Loss

When we see that people with dementia lose weight, it's easy to think that the weight loss is what caused dementia. But experts think it's the other way around. They call this "reverse causation." This means that the brain changes that cause dementia also cause people to lose weight. The brain changes can affect things like appetite, how the body uses food, and how people go about their daily lives. For example, people might forget to eat, have trouble making meals, or move around less.

While the study revealed a lot about different indicators of dementia and bodily changes, there are many limitations to the study. Everyone loses some weight as they get older. So, it's hard to know when weight loss is just a normal part of aging and when it's a sign of dementia. The study found that people with dementia lost weight faster, but it's still tricky to tell the difference in everyday life. Doctors need to look at other things, like memory tests, to figure out if someone's weight loss is a cause for concern.

If someone is losing weight without trying, and they're also having problems with their memory or thinking, it's important to talk to a doctor. It's not just about the weight loss; it's about the whole picture.

Every year, millions of people undergo routine health check-ups that include a lipid profile. Yet for many, the numbers on the report—Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, and increasingly ApoB—remain confusing.

Most people know that cholesterol is linked to heart disease and that "good" cholesterol can be beneficial, while high levels of "bad" cholesterol may increase cardiovascular risk. However, understanding what the different lipid profile numbers mean—and which ones matter most—can make a significant difference to long-term heart health.

Taking to the social media platform X, noted neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar said, "This is mainly meant for people who have NOT suffered a heart attack or stroke and are NOT already taking statins."

How Often Should You Get Tested?

Dr. Sudhir, Senior Consultant Neurologist at the Institute of Neurosciences, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, shared that for most healthy adults, a lipid profile every two to three years is generally sufficient.

However, more frequent testing may be necessary for people with:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• A history of smoking
• A family history of premature heart disease
• Previously abnormal cholesterol levels

LDL: Why This Cholesterol Matters

LDL cholesterol, commonly known as LDL-C, is often referred to as "bad cholesterol." The expert explained its key role in the development of heart disease.

"Excess LDL can enter artery walls and contribute to plaque formation. Over time, these plaques may narrow blood vessels or rupture, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes," Dr. Sudhir said.

For most healthy adults, LDL levels below 100 mg/dL are considered desirable. Levels above this range gradually increase cardiovascular risk, particularly when elevated over many years.

The lower the LDL, the lower the long-term risk of heart attack and stroke. On the other hand, persistently high LDL can increase the lifetime risk of:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Peripheral artery disease

Triglycerides: A Marker Of Metabolic Health

Triglycerides are another type of fat found in the bloodstream. High levels of triglycerides are often a marker of poor metabolic health, Dr. Sudhir said.

He added that high triglycerides can indicate:

• Insulin resistance
• Obesity
• Prediabetes
• Diabetes
• Physical inactivity
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Diets rich in refined carbohydrates and sugary beverages

What About HDL?

High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, has long been known as "good cholesterol." Traditionally, higher HDL levels have been associated with lower cardiovascular risk.

However, recent research has challenged the idea that simply raising HDL improves heart health. Several medications designed to increase HDL levels failed to reduce heart attack risk, prompting a shift in focus toward lowering harmful cholesterol particles rather than boosting HDL alone.

As a result, the expert cautioned against judging cardiovascular health based solely on HDL levels.

ApoB: The Emerging Risk Marker

One of the most important developments in cardiovascular prevention is the growing recognition of Apolipoprotein B, or ApoB. Dr. Sudhir stated that ApoB is a protein found on potentially harmful cholesterol-carrying particles such as LDL and VLDL (Very Low-Density Lipoprotein, a type of "bad" cholesterol).

"Think of ApoB as a count of the particles capable of entering artery walls and causing plaque. One ApoB is equal to one potentially harmful particle," the expert said.

ApoB is important because two people may have the same LDL level, but only one may have many more cholesterol-carrying particles. That person will often have a higher ApoB level and potentially higher cardiovascular risk. ApoB often provides a more accurate assessment of risk than LDL alone, the neurologist explained.

He suggested that ApoB testing should be considered by people with diabetes, prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, elevated triglycerides, or a strong family history of heart disease.

How To Improve Lipid Profile Naturally?

• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Avoiding smoking
• Limiting sugary drinks
• Reducing ultra-processed foods
• Eating more vegetables, fruits, and legumes
• Choosing healthier sources of fat
• Prioritizing good sleep.

A recent research published in the Nature Medicine journal reveals that a new drug can help people on obesity shots to avoid unwanted muscle loss linked to flat bums or "Ozempic butt". The US research suggests that about a third of the weight loss from GLP-1 obesity jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro can come from muscle rather than fat. The medication is apitegromab.

The trial with 102 adults, mostly women, who took apitegromab with their obesity medication, maintained more muscle while still losing fat, body scans showed.

But How Does Ozempic Function?

The first thing to remember here is that Ozempic is a brand-name medicine that contains semaglutide as its active ingredient. Semglutide is the synthetic version of GLP-1, a natural hormone produced in the intestines that regulates blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. Now, every time you eat, your body produces various hormones, including GLP-1. These are called post-nutrition hormones, and they help you absorb the energy you just consumed.

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GLP-1 travels to your pancreas, prompting it to produce insulin. It also travels to the hypothalamus in your brain, which gives you the feeling of being full or satiated. Ozempic imitates this hormone, thereby silencing the food chatter in the brain. Interestingly, for some people, this food chatter is really quiet ( people with low appetite), and for others it is an outburst (people who generally binge eat). So with Ozempic, silencing this self-talk in the brain, people tend to lose their appetite and eventually weight.

However, it is important to note that losing weight includes not just fat but muscle as well. Losing too much muscle can lead to reduced strength and a shorter life span. Notably, records show that most people who start taking them stop them at 12 weeks; therefore, it is important for some but not for others.

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What Are The Side Effects?

Ozempic is a drug that is tasked to help diabetic patients manage their blood sugar levels and weight. However, recent research has shown its effectiveness in mitigating various addictions like alcohol and drugs by inhibiting hormones. But what people ignore are its side effects, which include:

• Nausea is a frequent side effect, especially when starting Ozempic or increasing the dose, and vomiting may occur along with nausea.
• Diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort also show up in people using Ozempic, but they generally resolve as your body adjusts.
• Ozempic can reduce appetite but may also lead to unintended weight loss or reduced food intake, causing discomfort for some people.
• There are certain less common, but serious side effects, like Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.
• This drug may also cause severe kidney issues, particularly if dehydration occurs from side effects like vomiting or diarrhoea.

Although brain tumours are more commonly associated with older adults, they can occur at any age, including during adolescence and young adulthood. Recognising the warning signs early can help ensure timely diagnosis and treatment. Here, an expert explains the symptoms and highlights when medical attention should be sought.

What is a brain tumour?

In an interview with Health and Me, Dr Rakesh Patil, Consultant Medical Oncologist, AIMS Hospital, Dombivli, spoke about brain tumours and their rising incidence among younger Indians.

Brain tumours occur when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably within the brain or surrounding tissues. These tumours may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). While brain tumours are not among the most common cancers affecting young adults, cases do occur in this age group. The exact cause of most brain tumours remains unknown. However, certain genetic conditions, a family history of brain tumours, previous exposure to radiation therapy, and rare inherited disorders may increase the risk. In many cases, affected individuals have no identifiable risk factors. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment remain crucial for achieving the best possible outcomes.

Why are brain tumour symptoms missed?

One of the major challenges is that the early symptoms of a brain tumour can be mistaken for stress, migraines, sleep deprivation, or eye strain. Persistent headaches, especially those that worsen over time; nausea; vomiting; blurred or double vision; balance problems; unexplained seizures; weakness in an arm or leg; personality changes; memory difficulties; and problems with speech or concentration should not be ignored and warrant prompt medical evaluation.

Why are brain tumour cases rising among young Indians?

Many young adults are occupied with studies, careers, and social commitments, which may lead them to overlook symptoms or delay seeking medical attention. If left untreated, a brain tumour can affect important brain functions, including movement, speech, vision, memory, and behaviour. In some cases, it can become life-threatening.

What are the best treatment options for brain tumour?

Advances in imaging technology, neurosurgery, radiation therapy, and targeted treatments have significantly improved outcomes for many patients. Following a thorough evaluation and diagnosis, the treating physician will determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on the type, size, and location of the tumour. Some patients may also benefit from neurorehabilitation as part of their recovery.

Young adults should seek medical evaluation if they experience persistent headaches, develop neurological symptoms, or have seizures without an obvious cause. Greater awareness and timely medical attention can help improve outcomes and, in some cases, save lives.