title: The interaction effect between BDNF val66met polymorphism and obesity on executive functions and frontal structure.
abstract: The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. Previous research has shown a relationship between obesity and both executive functioning alterations and frontal cortex volume reductions. The Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor val66met polymorphism, involved in eating behavior, has also been associated with executive functions and prefrontal cortex volume, but to date it has not been studied in relation to obesity. Our aim is to elucidate whether the interaction between the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor val66met polymorphism and obesity status influences executive performance and frontal-subcortical brain structure. Sixty-one volunteers, 34 obese and 27 controls, age range 12-40, participated in the study. Participants were assigned to one of two genotype groups (met allele carriers, n = 16, or non-carriers, n = 45). Neuropsychological assessment comprised the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, all tasks that require response inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging in a Siemens TIM TRIO 3T scanner and images were analyzed using the FreeSurfer software. Analyses of covariance controlling for age and intelligence showed an effect of the obesity-by-genotype interaction on perseverative responses on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test as well as on precentral and caudal middle frontal cortical thickness: obese met allele carriers showed more perseverations on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and lower frontal thickness than obese non-carriers and controls. In conclusion, the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor may play an important role in executive functioning and frontal brain structure in obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Idoia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marqués-Iturria
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garolera
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pueyo
authors.forename: Bàrbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.forename: Imma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hernan
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Garre
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vernet-Vernet
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sender-Palacios
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narberhaus
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junqué
authors.forename: María Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Jurado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human
keywords: BMI; WCST; cortical thickness