Virginia Tech Jun 15 2026 Scientists have long known that being obese increases the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. What remains unclear is how that risk develops in the brain. Virginia Tech neuroscientist Timothy Jarome is investigating whether obesity may be accelerating the brain's aging process, contributing to earlier memory decline. The stakes are significant: About one in three adults over 70 experiences age-related memory loss, a condition with no treatment, while nearly 40