In modern medicine it is widely acknowledged that common health conditions that affect the body also affect the brain in one degree or another. Health "markers" like high blood pressure, obesity, and insulin resistance place strain on the body's metabolic and vascular system—directly affecting brain health. Now a new study, published in December 2025, is highlighting how metabolic health and nutrient status in early adulthood serve as early indicators for long-term brain health and Alzheimer's disease risk. Playing a central part in the findings is a "vitamin like" nutrient known as choline. Choline low, risk factors high According to the researchers, many of the young adults in the study showed unusually low blood levels of choline—a critical nutrient for brain function, liver health, and inflammation regulation. The study was conducted at the Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center at Arizona State University, and the findings were published in Aging and Disease. The researchers compared a group of 30 young adults with an average age of 33. The study subjects were split evenly between those with obesity and those with a healthy BMI. The researchers investigated the link between obesity, metabolic dysfunction, circulating choline levels, and markers of brain injury in young people. The researchers found that obese participants exhibited significantly lower levels of circulating choline compared to the healthy-weight group. In addition, the lower choline levels not only correlated with higher body fat percentages, but also with increased markers of insulin resistance, liver dysfunction, and elevated systemic inflammatory cytokines. Brain starvation The tracking of brain injury was done by observing a marker known as neurofilament light chain, or "Nfl." With this marker the negative correlation with low choline was pronounced—meaning that as choline levels decreased, NfL levels rose steadily. Nfl is a type of protein that is released when neurons are damaged. This suggests that metabolic stress can effectively "starve" the brain of the nutrients it needs to maintain its structure. This potentially increases the risk of cognitive decline years or decades down the line. These patterns—low choline, high NfL—were also observed in the cohorts of older adults with Alzheimer's, suggesting that these metabolic pathways may be active decades before symptoms of cognitive decline appear. Low choline + obesity = extremely low choline Put another way, the study illustrated how obesity exacerbates the existing "low choline problem" that already threatens the brain health of modern populations. Choline is vital for cell membranes, neurotransmitter production (which is critical for memory), and inflammation control. And now the study shows that extra weight robs the body of the already-low reserves of choline! The research corroborates earlier research by the same institution, Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center. In a 2019 study, the research institution revealed that "a lifelong dietary regimen of choline holds the potential to prevent Alzheimer's disease." The low intake problem According to data presented in the current study, the average American female is consuming 30% less choline than recommended; and the average male is consuming 20% less than the RDA for men. Overall, researchers estimate approximately 90% of the population doesn't get enough choline to some extent. Although the liver produces some choline, most must come from food. Rich dietary sources include eggs, poultry, fish, beans and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. Unfortunately, though choline is present in many foods, it is not a "rich" source in most of them. The take-away from these dismal stats, along with the findings of the current study, is that most Americans need supplemental choline—and if you're overweight, a choline supplement may just be a life saver. Choline can be found in Opti-Brain and Optimal B-Awake from Optimal Health Systems. Click the banner ads below to learn more. - - - Sources: Aging & Disease, News.asu, Wikipedia(Nfl).
