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Abdominal obesity and white matter microstructure in midlife
Alex Cole Birdsill1, Stephanie Oleson1, Sonya Kaur1
1Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
Human Brain Mapping
|April 9, 2017
Summary
Midlife abdominal obesity, measured by waist circumference, is linked to healthier white matter microstructure in the aging brain. This finding suggests a complex relationship between obesity and brain health, contrary to previous assumptions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- The aging US population and rising obesity rates present significant public health challenges.
- Midlife body mass index (BMI) is a potential risk factor for later-life dementia.
- Higher BMI has been linked to reduced white matter integrity in midlife.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between abdominal obesity and white matter microstructure in midlife adults.
- To explore the role of metabolically active adipose tissue in brain health.
Main Methods:
- 168 community-dwelling participants (ages 40-62) underwent 3T MRI and health assessments.
- Diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to analyze whole-brain white matter tracts.
- Statistical analyses controlled for age, sex, and metabolic risk factors.
Main Results:
- Higher waist circumference positively correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in several white matter tracts.
- Increased waist circumference was associated with lower axial, radial, and mean diffusivity, indicating restricted diffusion.
- This study is the first to report a positive association between obesity indicators and FA.
Conclusions:
- Abdominal obesity shows a complex, potentially protective relationship with white matter microstructure in midlife.
- Findings challenge previous notions of obesity solely as detrimental to brain health.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this association.
