Research Article

Brain structure and obesity

  1. Cyrus A. Raji1,2,†,
  2. April J. Ho3,†,
  3. Neelroop N. Parikshak3,
  4. James T. Becker4,5,6,
  5. Oscar L. Lopez6,
  6. Lewis H. Kuller7,
  7. Xue Hua3,
  8. Alex D. Leow3,
  9. Arthur W. Toga3,
  10. Paul M. Thompson3,*

Article first published online: 6 AUG 2009

DOI: 10.1002/hbm.20870

Issue

Human Brain Mapping

Human Brain Mapping

Volume 31, Issue 3, pages 353–364, March 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Raji, C. A., Ho, A. J., Parikshak, N. N., Becker, J. T., Lopez, O. L., Kuller, L. H., Hua, X., Leow, A. D., Toga, A. W. and Thompson, P. M. (2010), Brain structure and obesity. Hum. Brain Mapp., 31: 353–364. doi: 10.1002/hbm.20870

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  2. 2

    Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  3. 3

    Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

  4. 4

    Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  5. 5

    Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  6. 6

    Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  7. 7

    Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  1. †

    Cyrus A. Raji and April J. Ho contributed equally to this work.

*Professor of Neurology, Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, 635 Charles E. Young Drive South, Suite 225E, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7332

  1. †

    Cyrus A. Raji and April J. Ho contributed equally to this work.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 FEB 2010
  2. Article first published online: 6 AUG 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 3 JUL 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 3 JUN 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 23 APR 2009

Funded by

  • NIA
  • NIBIB
  • NCRR. Grant Numbers: AG016570, EB01651, RR019771
  • National Institute of Aging. Grant Numbers: AG 20098, AG05133, AG15928
  • American Heart Association. Grant Number: 0815465D

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Keywords:

  • brain atrophy;
  • obesity;
  • tensor-based morphometry

Abstract

Obesity is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular health problems including diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. These cardiovascular afflictions increase risk for cognitive decline and dementia, but it is unknown whether these factors, specifically obesity and Type II diabetes, are associated with specific patterns of brain atrophy. We used tensor-based morphometry (TBM) to examine gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volume differences in 94 elderly subjects who remained cognitively normal for at least 5 years after their scan. Bivariate analyses with corrections for multiple comparisons strongly linked body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) with atrophy in frontal, temporal, and subcortical brain regions. A multiple regression model, also correcting for multiple comparisons, revealed that BMI was still negatively correlated with brain atrophy (FDR <5%), while DM2 and FPI were no longer associated with any volume differences. In an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) model controlling for age, gender, and race, obese subjects with a high BMI (BMI > 30) showed atrophy in the frontal lobes, anterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, and thalamus compared with individuals with a normal BMI (18.5–25). Overweight subjects (BMI: 25–30) had atrophy in the basal ganglia and corona radiata of the WM. Overall brain volume did not differ between overweight and obese persons. Higher BMI was associated with lower brain volumes in overweight and obese elderly subjects. Obesity is therefore associated with detectable brain volume deficits in cognitively normal elderly subjects. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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