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Association between changes in obesity status and neuropsychiatric health and brain structure in different glucose status
Changes in obesity status and neuropsychiatric health
Obesity poses a substantial global health challenge, intricately linked to both cardiometabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders via mechanisms such as inflammation and insulin resistance. This study leverages data from the UK Biobank (n = 423,750; n = 32,551 with brain MRI) to elucidate the interplay between adiposity, longitudinal changes in obesity status, and glycemic control in relation to neuropsychiatric health and brain structural integrity. Participants were classified into three groups based on their glycemic status: normal glucose regulation (NGR), prediabetes (Pre-DM), and diabetes (DM), according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. Using Cox proportional hazards and linear regression models, the analysis revealed that higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BFP) correlated with increased risks of depression and anxiety across all glycemic groups, with particularly pronounced effects observed in the NGR group. Notably, abdominal obesity was linked to an elevated risk of Parkinson’s disease in NGR participants. Interestingly, a negative association was found between BMI and dementia risk in NGR, potentially indicative of reverse causality. Moreover, persistent obesity and weight gain were associated with heightened risks of depression and anxiety within the NGR cohort. In contrast, within the DM group, higher BFP was significantly associated with decreased volumes in the grey matter, thalamus, and hippocampus, alongside an increase in white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). This association with BFP emerged as the most robust imaging signal, underscoring the heightened vulnerability of brain structure to excess adiposity in diabetes, with similar but less pronounced patterns noted in Pre-DM and NGR. Overall, the findings underscore the detrimental effects of obesity, particularly persistent or escalating adiposity, on neuropsychiatric health and brain structure, with these impacts being significantly modulated by glycemic status. The research emphasizes the necessity of incorporating glucose metabolism considerations in evaluating obesity-related brain risks and advocates for early interventions in weight management and metabolic control as potential strategies for preventing neuropsychiatric disorders and mitigating brain aging. [NPID: obesity, neuropsychiatric, brain structure, parkinson’s, adiposity, diabetes]
Year: 2025
