Medial orbitofrontal cortex structure, function, and cognition associates with weight loss for laparoscopic sleeve...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Bariatric Surgery
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder with significant health implications.
• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an effective bariatric surgery for long-term weight loss.
• The neural mechanisms underlying sustained weight loss post-LSG require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the underlying mechanisms of long-term effective weight loss after LSG.
• To examine the effects of LSG on the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) and cognitive function.
• To identify potential neuroimaging and cognitive biomarkers for predicting weight loss outcomes.

Main Methods:

• 18 individuals with obesity underwent LSG.
• Clinical data, cognitive scores, and brain MRI scans were collected pre-LSG and 12 months post-LSG.
• Voxel-based morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analyses were used to assess mOFC changes.

Main Results:

• No significant general cognitive improvement was observed post-LSG.
• LSG led to decreased bilateral mOFC gray matter volume and increased right mOFC RSFC.
• Weight loss correlated with mOFC RSFC, general cognition, and triglyceride levels.

Conclusions:

• mOFC structural and functional changes occur after LSG.
• Baseline mOFC gray matter volume and working memory scores predicted weight loss variation.
• mOFC imaging and cognitive scores may serve as predictive biomarkers for LSG weight loss success.