Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Gray Matter Volume in 1,428 Healthy Individuals

Abstract

objective: To investigate any correlation between BMI and brain gray matter volume, we analyzed 1,428 healthy Japanese subjects by applying volumetric analysis and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) using brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which enables a global analysis of brain structure without a priori identification of a region of interest. Methods and Procedures:We collected brain MR images from 690 men and 738 women, and their height, weight, and other clinical information. The collected images were automatically normalized into a common standard space for an objective assessment of neuroanatomical correlations in volumetric analysis and VBM with BMI. Results: Volumetric analysis revealed a significant negative correlation in men (P < 0.001, adjusting for age, lifetime alcohol intake, history of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus), although not in women, between BMI and the gray matter ratio, which represents the percentage of gray matter volume in the intracranial volume. VBM revealed that, in men, the regional gray matter volume of the bilateral medial temporal lobes, anterior lobe of the cerebellum, occipital lobe, frontal lobe, precuneus, and midbrain showed significant negative correlations with BMI, while those of the bilateral inferior frontal gyri, posterior lobe of the cerebellum, frontal lobes, temporal lobes, thalami, and caudate heads showed significant positive correlations with BMI. Discussion: Global loss and regional alterations in gray matter volume occur in obese male subjects, suggesting that male subjects with a high BMI are at greater risk for future declines in cognition or other brain functions.

A commonly carried allele of the obesity-relatedFTOgene is associated with reduced brain volume in the healthy elderly

“…1-3). BMI effects on occipital lobe tissue were found previously (19,22,34). Studies of types 1 and 2 diabetes have also shown that diabetes is associated with greater brain atrophy.…”

“…Obesity is associated with detectable structural differences in the brain in cognitively healthy elderly subjects (19) and in younger adults (20)(21)(22). In 94 healthy elderly subjects, BMI, fasting plasma insulin (FPI), and type 2 diabetes were strongly linked with frontal, temporal, and subcortical atrophy (19).…”

Obesity and psychiatric disorders: Commonalities in dysregulated biological pathways and their implications for treatment

“…A higher mid-life BMI also increases the rate of hippocampal atrophy in late life (Jagust et al, 2005, Taki et al, 2008. Low total brain…”

“…Investigations into structural brain changes has largely confirmed that obese and overweight individuals have a smaller hippocampal size compared to healthy individuals (Fotuhi et al, 2012, Mueller et al, 2012, Raji et al, 2010, Taki et al, 2008. A higher mid-life BMI also increases the rate of hippocampal atrophy in late life (Jagust et al, 2005, Taki et al, 2008.…”

Brain Structure and Obesity

“…A group of elderly (70-84 years) Swedish women showed substantial temporal lobe atrophy on computed tomography [Gustafson et al, 2004] while another study found BMI associated cerebral volume loss in Japanese men but not in women [Taki et al, 2008]. To determine whether or not correlations between BMI and brain structure are influenced by gender in our study, we modeled a BMI by gender interaction in our multiple regression analyses and did not detect a sex difference in BMI-related brain atrophy.…”