Family Income Is Associated With Regional Brain Glucose Metabolism in Middle-Aged Males

Socioeconomic status is a multifaceted construct that plays a prominent role in shaping our environment. This study investigated the associations between family income, education level, and brain glucose metabolism in middle-aged males. We retrospectively analysed data of healthy males who underwent a health check-up programme including (1) brain ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, (2) anthropometric measurements, (3) survey of family income and education level and (4) measures of stress, anxiety and depression. Bayesian hierarchical modelling was used to evaluate the relationships between SES variables and regional standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs). A total of 233 healthy males were included in this study. Family income was positively correlated with education level. Higher family income was associated with increased glucose metabolism in the caudate, putamen, anterior cingulate, hippocampus and amygdala. In contrast, education level showed no significant association with regional brain metabolism in either ROI-based or full-volume analyses. In conclusion, family income, and education level show differential associations with brain glucose metabolism in middle-aged males. Family income is associated with elevated brain glucose metabolism in regions involved in reward processing and stress regulation, suggesting a potential link between current socioeconomic resources and neural activity. However, these findings are cross-sectional and must be interpreted as associative rather than causal. Education level does not show a significant association with brain glucose metabolism.