Weight-Related Differences in Salience, Default Mode, and Executive Function Network Connectivity in Adolescents

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Adolescent Health
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Brain networks, including the default mode network (DMN), executive function network (EFN), and salience network (SN), play crucial roles in cognitive and emotional regulation.
• Weight status, ranging from lean to obesity, may influence the functional connectivity within and between these critical brain networks in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate weight-related differences in brain network connectivity (DMN, EFN, SN) among adolescents with varying weight statuses (lean, overweight, obesity).

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional connectivity MRI scans were conducted on 164 adolescents.
• A general linear model analyzed differences in brain scan patterns across lean, overweight, and obese adolescent groups.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with obesity exhibited stronger within-SN connectivity in certain regions but reduced connectivity between the amygdala and SN regions compared to lean adolescents.
• Obese adolescents showed decreased connectivity between SN and DMN regions, as well as between SN and EFN regions.

Conclusions:

• Obesity in adolescents is associated with altered SN connectivity, potentially affecting salience and reward processing.
• Reduced SN-EFN connectivity in obese adolescents may indicate impaired executive control during heightened salience processing.