A fixed cutter drill bit including a bit body having a plurality of primary blades extending radially from a bit center area, wherein the bit center area includes a partial connection between at least two of the plurality of primary blades. The fixed cutter drill bit further including at least one cutter disposed on at least one of the blades. Additionally, a method of designing a fixed cutter drill bit includes modeling the fixed cutter drill bit, the fixed cutter drill bit including a plurality of primary blades extending radially from a bit center area, wherein the plurality of primary blades includes a plurality of cutters. The method further including determining a center of an innermost cutter on each primary blade, creating a partial connection between the primary blades, and outputting the model of the fixed cutter drill bit.