Key result
Higher adolescent BMI is linked to cortical abnormalities partially explained by fibrinogen and TNF-α.
Why the study?
Research examining the link between unhealthy body mass index and neuroanatomical changes in adolescents is limited and conflicting, and the role of inflammatory adipose-related agents in this link remains unaddressed.
Cross-Sectional (n=65)
Yes
Effect estimate: β = -0.45
p-value: p=<0.001
In adolescents, higher body mass index is associated with structural brain abnormalities in areas related to feeding behavior, which are partially driven by inflammatory agents like fibrinogen and TNF-α.
Adolescent BMI may link to cortical changes via inflammation; hypothesis-generating, needs longitudinal data before any clinical relevance.
Background/Objectives Excessive body mass index (BMI) has been linked to a low-grade chronic inflammation state. Unhealthy BMI has also been related to neuroanatomical changes in adults. However, research in adolescents is relatively limited and has produced conflicting results. This study aims to address the relationship between BMI and adolescents’ brain structure as well as to test the role that inflammatory adipose-related agents might have over this putative link. Methods We studied structural MRI and serum levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein and fibrinogen in 65 adolescents (aged 12-21 years). Relationships between BMI, cortical thickness and surface area were tested with a vertex-wise analysis. Subsequently, we used backward multiple linear regression models to explore the influence of inflammatory parameters in each brain-altered area. Results We found a negative association between cortical thickness and BMI in the left lateral occipital cortex (LOC), the left fusiform gyrus and the right precentral gyrus as well as a positive relationship between surface area and BMI in the left rostral middle frontal gyrus and the right superior frontal gyrus. In addition, we found that higher fibrinogen serum concentrations were related to thinning within the left LOC (β = −0.45, p < 0.001) and the left fusiform gyrus (β = - 0.33, p = 0.035), while higher serum levels of TNF-α were associated to a greater surface area in the right superior frontal gyrus (β = 0.32, p = 0.045). Conclusions These results suggest that adolescents’ body mass increases are related with brain abnormalities in areas that could play a relevant role in some aspects of feeding behavior. Likewise, we have evidenced that these cortical changes were partially driven by inflammatory agents such as fibrinogen and TNF-α.
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Prats-Soteras et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Overweight and obesity (n=65). Body mass index and inflammatory biomarkers was evaluated on Association between fibrinogen serum concentrations and cortical thickness in the left lateral occipital cortex (β = -0.45, p=<0.001). Higher body mass index in adolescents is associated with cortical abnormalities that are partially explained by inflammatory agents such as fibrinogen and TNF-α.
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