The Relationship Between the Gut Microbiome and Executive Function in Adolescents With Overweight and Obesity

Excess weight affects both brain structure and function. Among the structures affected by excess weight, the prefrontal cortex, a key structure for executive functions, appears to be especially vulnerable. Beyond genetic, cognitive and social factors, recent research has highlighted the role of the gut microbiome on excess weight.

In this cross-sectional study, the relationship between gut microbiome composition and executive functioning was assessed in adolescents classified into obesity, overweight and normoweight groups according to their body mass index.

Genera Bacteroides and Ruthenibacterium were more abundant in controls with normoweight compared to participants with overweight. Genus Alistipes was more abundant in controls with normoweight compared to participants with obesity. The Shannon's alpha diversity index was negatively correlated with the inhibition index of the Five Digit Test in participants with overweight. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was negatively correlated with the number of commission errors of the Continuous Performance Test in participants with obesity. Further, several components of the microbiome were differentially related to executive functions depending on weight status.

Our results suggest that the microbiome composition differs between adolescents with different weight status. Further, the relative abundance of specific members of the microbiome is related to executive function.