Association between regional brain volumes and BMI z-score change over one year in children

Abstract

PurposeAssociations between brain region volume and weight status have been observed in children cross-sectionally. However, it is unclear if differences in brain region volume precede weight gain.MethodsTwo high-quality structural brain images were obtained approximately one year apart in 53 children aged 9–12 years old. Children’s height and weight were also measured at each scan. Structural images were processed using the FreeSurfer software-package providing volume measures for regions of interest including the entorhinal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus. Age- and sex-adjusted BMI z-scores (BMIz) were calculated at both timepoints. The association between brain region volume and BMIz was examined cross-sectionally using linear regression and longitudinally using structural equation modeling. All models were adjusted by estimated cranial volume to account for individual variation in head size and were corrected for multiple comparisons (pFDR<0.05).ResultsThe sample of children was primarily healthy weight at baseline (79.78%). Cross-sectionally at the one-year follow-up, a positive relationship was observed between right hippocampal volume and BMIz (β = 0.43, 95% CI = (0.10, 0.77)). Longitudinally a negative relationship was observed between right entorhinal volume at baseline and BMIz at the one-year follow-up (β = −0.25, 95% CI = (−0.44, −0.07)).ConclusionThese results suggest that measured volumes from certain regions of the brain that have been associated with BMI in adults are associated with both concurrent BMIz and BMIz change over one-year in a primarily healthy weight sample of children. As the entorhinal cortex integrates signals from both reward and control regions, this region may be particularly important to weight management during child development.

Influence of exclusive breastfeeding on hippocampal structure, satiety responsiveness, and weight status

“…However, previous studies also contradict this finding by showing either no association (Adise et al, 2021;Perlaki et al, 2018) or a positive association between weight status and right hippocampal volume (Masterson, Bobak et al, 2019;Moreno-Lopez et al, 2012).…”

“…Although breastfeeding has been associated with differences in brain structure across many regions, differences in hippocampal structure may be particularly important when considering risk for excess weight gain (Clasen et al, 2020 ; Masterson, Bobak et al, 2019 ; Z. L. Mestre et al, 2017 ; Stevenson & Francis, 2017 ). Hippocampus is sensitive to diet and contributes to the regulation of food intake through the integration of hormonal (e.g., ghrelin, leptin) and cognitive (e.g., memory, learning, craving) signals (Stevenson & Francis, 2017 ).…”

“…Although breastfeeding has been associated with differences in brain structure across many regions, differences in hippocampal structure may be particularly important when considering risk for excess weight gain (Clasen et al, 2020;Masterson, Bobak et al, 2019;Z. L. Mestre et al, 2017;Stevenson & Francis, 2017).…”

“…There is evidence that greater child weight status is associated with both lower left hippocampal volume (Bauer et al, 2015;Z. L. Mestre et al, 2017) and higher right hippocampal volume (Masterson, Bobak et al, 2019).…”

The effect of body mass index on hippocampal morphology and memory performance in late childhood and adolescence

“…However, several cross-sectional studies that considered BMI across the weight spectrum, as opposed to testing for group differences using clinical obesity cut-offs, have not found a significant association (Masterson, Bobak, Rapuano, Shearrer, & Gilbert-Diamond, 2019;Mestre et al, 2020;Perlaki et al, 2018;Yau, Kang, Javier, & Convit, 2014). It is possible that these effects are subtle in nature and by employing shape analysis, we are able to probe the dosedependent effect of body mass on regional hippocampal structure that is typically obscured with whole-volumetric approaches.…”