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Relationships between plasma leptin concentrations and human brain structure: a voxel-based morphometric study.

Nicola Pannacciulli1, Duc Son N T Le, Kewei Chen

  • 1Obesity and Diabetes Clinical Research Section, Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, NIDDK-NIH, Phoenix, AZ 85016, United States. nicolap@mail.nih.gov

Neuroscience Letters
|November 25, 2006
PubMed
Summary
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Obesity is linked to reduced brain grey matter (GM) in key areas. This study found that higher leptin levels, common in obesity, correlate with decreased GM volumes in these same brain regions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Obesity Research
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Obesity is associated with reduced grey matter (GM) volume in specific brain regions.
  • Leptin, a key adiposity signal, is known to affect brain function.
  • Previous research indicates altered brain morphology in individuals with excess body fat.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between fasting plasma leptin concentrations and brain tissue composition.
  • To determine if leptin levels correlate with GM volumes in brain areas affected by obesity.
  • To explore potential mechanisms linking obesity, leptin, and brain morphology.

Main Methods:

  • Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
  • Analysis of fasting plasma leptin concentrations in 32 young adults.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Statistical adjustments for relevant covariates including insulin, body fat, age, and sex.

    • Main Results:

    • Fasting leptin concentrations showed a positive correlation with GM volumes in the left cerebellum and left inferior temporal gyrus.
    • A negative association was observed between leptin levels and GM volumes in the left inferior frontal operculum, left postcentral gyrus, and right putamen.
    • These correlations remained significant after adjusting for major determinants of leptin and global GM volume.

    Conclusions:

    • Increased fasting plasma leptin concentrations, characteristic of obesity, are independently and negatively correlated with GM volumes in specific brain areas.
    • These findings suggest that leptin may play a role in the observed brain structural abnormalities associated with excess body fat.
    • The study provides insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of obesity-related brain changes.