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. 2009;34(3):272-83.
doi: 10.1080/87565640802530961.

Early childhood obesity is associated with compromised cerebellar development

Jennifer L Miller  1 , Jessica Couch, Krista Schwenk, Michelle Long, Stephen Towler, Douglas W Theriaque, Guojun He, Yijun Liu, Daniel J Driscoll, Christiana M Leonard
Affiliations

Early childhood obesity is associated with compromised cerebellar development

Jennifer L Miller et al. Dev Neuropsychol. 2009.

Abstract

As part of a study investigating commonalities between Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS-a genetic imprinting disorder) and early-onset obesity of unknown etiology (EMO) we measured total cerebral and cerebellar volume on volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. Individuals with PWS (N = 16) and EMO (N = 12) had smaller cerebellar volumes than a control group of 15 siblings (p = .02 control vs. EMO; p = .0005 control vs. PWS), although there was no difference among the groups in cerebral volume. Individuals with PWS and EMO also had impaired cognitive function: general intellectual ability (GIA): PWS 65 +/- 25; EMO 81 +/- 19; and Controls 112 +/- 13 (p < .0001 controls vs. PWS and controls vs. EMO). As both conditions are characterized by early-onset obesity and slowed cognitive development, these results raise the possibility that early childhood obesity retards both cerebellar and cognitive development.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Cerebral volume in control siblings, EMO, and PWS
There are no differences in overall cerebral volume between normal weight control siblings, individuals with EMO, and those with PWS. Boxplots graph data as a box representing statistical values. The bottom of the box indicates the 25th percentile, a line within the box marks the median, the cross within the box indicates the mean, and the top of the box indicates the 75th percentile. The whiskers above and below the box indicate the 90th and 10th percentiles.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Cerebellar volume in controls, EMO, and PWS
Individuals with EMO and those with PWS have significantly smaller cerebellar volumes than the normal weight control siblings (p<0.02 EMO vs. controls; p<0.0005 PWS vs. controls). There is no significant difference in cerebellar volume between individuals with PWS and those with EMO.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Cerebral/cerebellar volume ratio
Individuals with PWS have a smaller cerebral/cerebellar volume ratio than normal weight controls (p=0.007) and there is a trend toward a smaller ratio for individuals with EMO as compared to normal weight controls (p=0.07). There is no significant difference between individuals with PWS and those with EMO.
Figure 4
Figure 4. General Intellectual Ability (GIA) amongst groups
Individuals with PWS and EMO have a lower GIA than their normal weight control siblings (p<0.0001). There is no significant difference between the individuals with PWS and those with EMO.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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