Specific white matter tissue microstructure changes associated with obesity

• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.10.006
• Publication Date: 2015-10-21T13:44:34Z
• Authors: Stephanie Kullmann; Martina F. Callaghan; Martin Heni; Nikolaus Weiskopf; Klaus Scheffler; Hans-Ulrich Häring; Andreas Fritsche; Ralf Veit; Hubert Preissl
• Keywords: Uncinate fasciculus; Superior longitudinal fasciculus; Corticospinal tract

Obesity-related structural brain alterations point to a consistent reduction in gray matter with increasing body mass index (BMI) but changes white have proven be more complex and less conclusive. Hence, recently diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been employed investigate microstructural structure. Altogether, these studies mostly shown loss of integrity obesity-related factors several regions. However, the variety factors, including inflammation dyslipidemia, resulted competing influences on DTI indices. To increase specificity results, we explored specific tissue properties by combining quantitative multi-parameter mapping lean, overweight obese young adults. By means mapping, structures showed differences MRI parameters reduced myelin, increased water altered iron content BMI superior longitudinal fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, internal capsule corpus callosum. BMI-related revealed mainly mean axial diffusivity corticospinal tract, radiation fasciculus. These alterations, fiber tracts linking limbic prefrontal regions, could potentially promote accelerated aging individuals leading an risk for cognitive decline.