As people age, they are likely to accumulate excess abdominal fat, which promotes inflammation throughout the body and in the brain. Such inflammatory overload may damage brain cells.

Reducing belly fat not only improves how we look, it also promotes better brain function.

Although cutting back on calories will help, a better strategy is to combine healthy diet with regular exercise.

Studies have shown that moderate exercise twice a week can lead to declines in total body fat, but a combined regimen of exercise along with diet has an even more significant effect in targeting brain-damaging belly fat.

Other research has shown that adding a strength-training routine to regular cardiovascular conditioning works better than either form of exercise alone.

Sit-ups or abdominal crunches can strengthen core muscles and protect against back injury, but those abdominal-strengthening exercises are generally inadequate for trimming waistlines without a healthy diet, cardiovascular conditioning, and general strength training.