Nucleus accumbens cytoarchitecture predicts weight gain in children

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2007918117
• Publication Date: 2020-10-13T00:30:37Z
• Authors: Kristina M. Rapuano; Jennifer S. Laurent; Donald J. Hagler; Sean N. Hatton; Wesley K. Thompson; Terry L. Jernigan; Anders M. Dale; B. J. Casey; Richard Watts
• Keywords: Brain stimulation reward; Reward system

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents worldwide has quadrupled since 1975 is a key predictor later life. Previous work consistently observed relationships between macroscale measures reward-related brain regions (e.g., the nucleus accumbens [NAcc]) unhealthy eating behaviors outcomes; however, mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. Recent highlighted potential role neuroinflammation NAcc animal models diet-induced obesity. Here, we leverage diffusion MRI technique, restriction spectrum imaging, to probe microstructure (cellular density) subcortical regions. More specifically, test hypothesis that cell density associated with obesity-related metrics early weight gain. In large cohort nine- ten-year-olds enrolled Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, demonstrate cellular related individual differences waist circumference at baseline predictive increases after 1 y. These findings suggest neurobiological mechanism for pediatric consistent rodent showing high saturated fat diets increase gliosis regions, which turn lead further