Carrying fat around the midsection has already been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, but researchers say it can also double a woman’s risk of developing memory problems as she ages.

The results of the study were recently published in the scientific journal Neurology. Researchers followed almost 1,500 women between the ages of 38 and 60 for more than 30 years. They found that women who were broader around the waist than the hips in middle age ran slightly more than twice the risk of developing dementia when they got old.

They did not find, however, that body mass index (BMI) was linked to memory problems.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of dementia include memory loss, personality changes, difficulty communicating, agitation and difficulty with coordination and motor functions. The risk of developing dementia increases with age.

Healthcare experts recommend staying physically and mentally active, lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and homocysteine levels and maintaining a healthy diet as ways to prevent dementia.

Some of the more popular alternative remedies for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia include vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, ginkgo and huperzine.