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Cortisol, Anxiety, and TNFα Mediate the Relationship Between BMI and Executive Functions
Anna Prunell-Castañé1,2,3, María Ángeles Jurado1,2,3, Xavier Caldú1,2,3
1Departament de Psicologia Clínica i Psicobiologia, Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall D'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
Summary
Higher body mass index (BMI) is linked to poorer executive functions (EF). Inflammation, cortisol, and anxiety mediate this relationship, with age-specific differences observed in adolescents and adults regarding working memory and inhibition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Overweight and obesity are linked to diminished executive functions (EF).
- Mechanisms like cortisol, anxiety, and inflammation are suspected contributors but require further investigation.
- Understanding these pathways is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether fibrinogen, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), cortisol, and anxiety mediate the association between body mass index (BMI) z-score and EF.
- To examine these mediating roles separately in adolescent and adult populations.
- To analyze the impact on specific EF components: working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and a latent EF factor.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 268 participants aged 11-49 years with BMIs ranging from normal to obese.
- Medical and neuropsychological evaluations were conducted.
- Moderated multiple mediation analyses were performed with BMI z-score as the independent variable, mediators including cortisol, anxiety, TNFα, and fibrinogen, and EF as the dependent variable, with age group as a moderator.
Main Results:
- TNFα mediated the BMI z-score and working memory link in adolescents (indirect effect = 0.09).
- In adults, cortisol (indirect effect = -0.06) and anxiety (indirect effect = 0.02) mediated the BMI z-score and working memory association.
- Anxiety also mediated the BMI z-score and latent EF component relationship in adults (indirect effect = 0.03).
- Across the full sample, TNFα mediated the BMI z-score and inhibition link (indirect effect = -0.03).
Conclusions:
- Inflammation (TNFα), cortisol, and anxiety are plausible mediators linking BMI to cognitive performance.
- The mediating pathways appear to be age-dependent, differing between adolescents and adults.
- Further longitudinal research is recommended to confirm these findings and explore age-specific effects on cognitive function.
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