Reduced cortical thickness associated with visceral fat and BMI.
Structural brain imaging studies have shown that obesity is associated with widespread reductions in gray matter (GM) volume. Although the body mass index (BMI) is an easily accessible anthropometric measure, substantial health problems are more related to specific body fat compartments, like visceral adipose tissue (VAT). We investigated cortical thickness measures in a group of 72 healthy subjects (BMI range 20-35 kg/m(2), age range 19-50 years). Multiple regression analyses were performed using VAT and BMI as predictors and age, gender, total surface area and education as confounds. BMI and VAT were independently associated with reductions in cortical thickness in clusters comprising the left lateral occipital area, the left inferior temporal cortex, and the left precentral and inferior parietal area, while the right insula, the left fusiform gyrus and the right inferior temporal area showed a negative correlation with VAT only. In addition, we could show significant reductions in cortical thickness with increasing VAT adjusted for BMI in the left temporal cortex. We were able to detect widespread cortical thinning in a young to middle-aged population related to BMI and VAT; these findings show close resemblance to studies focusing on GM volume differences in diabetic patients. This may point to the influence of VAT related adverse effects, like low-grade inflammation, as a potentially harmful factor on brain integrity already in individuals at risk of developing diabetes, metabolic syndromes and arteriosclerosis.
Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, fMEG Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Ralf
R
Veit
Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, fMEG Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany ; Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, Germany.
Stephanie
S
Kullmann
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, Germany ; Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Martin
M
Heni
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, Germany ; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Section on Experimental Radiology, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Jürgen
J
Machann
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, Germany ; Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Hans-Ulrich
HU
Häring
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, Germany ; Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Andreas
A
Fritsche
Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, fMEG Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany ; Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, Germany.
Hubert
H
Preissl
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
Cortical thickness; MR imaging; Obesity; Visceral adipose tissue