Increased brain cortical thickness associated with visceral fat in adolescents

Abstract

Background: There has been a growing amount of evidence indicating that excess visceral fat is associated with alterations in brain structure and function, including brain cortical thinning in adults.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between brain cortical thickness with obesity assessments, in adolescents.

Methods: In this study, we measured three different obesity assessments within an adolescent population (aged 15 - 18 years): body mass index (BMI), visceral fat ratio measured with an MRI and hepatorenal gradient measured with an ultrasound. Volunteers also underwent an MRI scan to measure brain structure.

Results: Results indicated that there was no relationship of BMI or hepatorenal gradient with brain cortical dimensions. However, there was a significant association between visceral fat ratio and an increase of cortical thickness throughout the brain.

Conclusions: These results suggest that visceral fat, but not BMI, is correlated with cortical thickening in adolescence.

Keywords: MRI; adolescent obesity; cortical thickness; intra-abdominal fat.