Key result
Concurrent obesity was associated with a 25.3% higher white matter hyperintensity volume compared to ideal weight (β 0.253; 95% CI 0.222-0.284).
Why the study?
White matter hyperintensities increase the risk of stroke and cognitive impairment, motivating an investigation into cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between adiposity and white matter hyperintensities.
Is adiposity associated with increased white matter hyperintensities volume in adults?
Observational (n=34,653)
Is adiposity associated with increased white matter hyperintensities volume in adults?
Both concurrent and past adiposity are associated with higher white matter hyperintensity volume, an effect partly mediated by blood pressure.
Adiposity measures associate with higher WMH volume across midlife and later; leaves open causal effects of weight change on WMH progression.
OBJECTIVES: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) increase the risk of stroke and cognitive impairment. This study aims to determine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between adiposity and WMH. METHODS: Participants were enrolled from the UK Biobank cohort. Associations of concurrent, past, and changes in overall and central adiposity with WMH were investigated by linear and nonlinear regression models. The association of longitudinal adiposity and WMH volume changes was determined by a linear mixed model. Mediation analysis investigated the potential mediating effect of blood pressure. RESULTS: In 34,653 participants with available adiposity measures and imaging data, the concurrent obese group had a 25.3% (β [95% CI] = 0.253 [0.222-0.284]) higher WMH volume than the ideal weight group. Increment in all adiposity measures was associated with a higher WMH volume. Among them, waist circumference demonstrated the strongest effect (β [95% CI] = 0.113 [0.101-0.125]). Past adiposity also demonstrated similar effects. Among the subset of 2664 participants with available WMH follow-up data, adiposity measures were predictive of WMH change. Regarding changes of adiposity, compared with ideal weight stable group, those who turned from ideal weight to overweight/obese had a 8.1% higher WMH volume (β [95% CI] = 0.081 [0.039-0.123]), while participants who turned from overweight/obese to ideal weight demonstrated no significant WMH volume change. Blood pressure partly meditates the associations between adiposity and WMH. CONCLUSIONS: Both concurrent and past adiposity were associated with a higher WMH volume. The detrimental effects of adiposity on WMH occurred throughout midlife and in the elderly and may still exist after changes in obesity status.
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Wang et al. (2024) reported an observational. Adiposity (obesity) vs. Ideal weight was evaluated on White matter hyperintensities (WMH) volume (β 0.253, 95% CI 0.222-0.284). Concurrent obesity was associated with a 25.3% higher white matter hyperintensity volume compared to ideal weight (β 0.253; 95% CI 0.222-0.284).
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