YOU ARE HERE: LAT HomeCollections  When waist widens, risk of
dementia rises   A large belly is a bigger risk than family
history in boosting the chances of cognitive disorders, a study
says.  March 27, 2008|Denise Gellene | Times Staff Writer
The report in the journal Neurology was the latest to show that
belly fat can pose serious health risks, even for those who are
not obese. Previous research has shown that people with large
abdomens face a greater chance of diabetes, stroke and heart
disease.   Dementia is an age-related condition that involves
the loss of memory and other cognitive functions. It affects 5.7
million Americans, or about 1 in 10 people over age 65.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for
60% to 80% of cases.  Being overweight has also become a
significant health problem in the U.S. About 50% of the nation's
adults have an unhealthy amount of belly fat, according to the
latest report.  People who tend to pack on abdominal fat are
often described as apple-shaped