Structural Brain Changes Associated with Overweight and Obesity

Obesity is a global health problem with a broad set of comorbidities, such as malnutrition, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, systemic hypertension, heart failure, and kidney failure. This review describes recent findings of neuroimaging and two studies of cell density regarding the roles of overnutriti...

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Main Authors: Erick Gómez-Apo, Alejandra Mondragón-Maya, Martina Ferrari-Díaz, Juan Silva-Pereyra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Obesity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6613385
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author Erick Gómez-Apo
Alejandra Mondragón-Maya
Martina Ferrari-Díaz
Juan Silva-Pereyra
author_facet Erick Gómez-Apo
Alejandra Mondragón-Maya
Martina Ferrari-Díaz
Juan Silva-Pereyra
author_sort Erick Gómez-Apo
collection DOAJ
description Obesity is a global health problem with a broad set of comorbidities, such as malnutrition, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, systemic hypertension, heart failure, and kidney failure. This review describes recent findings of neuroimaging and two studies of cell density regarding the roles of overnutrition-induced hypothalamic inflammation in neurodegeneration. These studies provided consistent evidence of smaller cortical thickness or reduction in the gray matter volume in people with overweight and obesity; however, the investigated brain regions varied across the studies. In general, bilateral frontal and temporal areas, basal nuclei, and cerebellum are more commonly involved. Mechanisms of volume reduction are unknown, and neuroinflammation caused by obesity is likely to induce neuronal loss. Adipocytes, macrophages of the adipose tissue, and gut dysbiosis in overweight and obese individuals result in the secretion of the cytokines and chemokines that cross the blood-brain barrier and may stimulate microglia, which in turn also release proinflammatory cytokines. This leads to chronic low-grade neuroinflammation and may be an important factor for apoptotic signaling and neuronal death. Additionally, significant microangiopathy observed in rat models may be another important mechanism of induction of apoptosis. Neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases) may be similar to that in metabolic diseases induced by malnutrition. Poor cognitive performance, mainly in executive functions, in individuals with obesity is also discussed. This review highlights the neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative mechanisms linked to obesity and emphasizes the importance of developing effective prevention and treatment intervention strategies for overweight and obese individuals.
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spelling doaj-art-f84fed6c975b4f9885c2025fbf3706e42025-02-03T05:47:39ZengWileyJournal of Obesity2090-07082090-07162021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66133856613385Structural Brain Changes Associated with Overweight and ObesityErick Gómez-Apo0Alejandra Mondragón-Maya1Martina Ferrari-Díaz2Juan Silva-Pereyra3Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, Ciudad de México, MexicoFacultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, MexicoFacultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, MexicoFacultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, MexicoObesity is a global health problem with a broad set of comorbidities, such as malnutrition, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, systemic hypertension, heart failure, and kidney failure. This review describes recent findings of neuroimaging and two studies of cell density regarding the roles of overnutrition-induced hypothalamic inflammation in neurodegeneration. These studies provided consistent evidence of smaller cortical thickness or reduction in the gray matter volume in people with overweight and obesity; however, the investigated brain regions varied across the studies. In general, bilateral frontal and temporal areas, basal nuclei, and cerebellum are more commonly involved. Mechanisms of volume reduction are unknown, and neuroinflammation caused by obesity is likely to induce neuronal loss. Adipocytes, macrophages of the adipose tissue, and gut dysbiosis in overweight and obese individuals result in the secretion of the cytokines and chemokines that cross the blood-brain barrier and may stimulate microglia, which in turn also release proinflammatory cytokines. This leads to chronic low-grade neuroinflammation and may be an important factor for apoptotic signaling and neuronal death. Additionally, significant microangiopathy observed in rat models may be another important mechanism of induction of apoptosis. Neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases) may be similar to that in metabolic diseases induced by malnutrition. Poor cognitive performance, mainly in executive functions, in individuals with obesity is also discussed. This review highlights the neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative mechanisms linked to obesity and emphasizes the importance of developing effective prevention and treatment intervention strategies for overweight and obese individuals.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6613385
spellingShingle Erick Gómez-Apo
Alejandra Mondragón-Maya
Martina Ferrari-Díaz
Juan Silva-Pereyra
Structural Brain Changes Associated with Overweight and Obesity
Journal of Obesity
title Structural Brain Changes Associated with Overweight and Obesity
title_full Structural Brain Changes Associated with Overweight and Obesity
title_fullStr Structural Brain Changes Associated with Overweight and Obesity
title_full_unstemmed Structural Brain Changes Associated with Overweight and Obesity
title_short Structural Brain Changes Associated with Overweight and Obesity
title_sort structural brain changes associated with overweight and obesity
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6613385
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AT martinaferraridiaz structuralbrainchangesassociatedwithoverweightandobesity
AT juansilvapereyra structuralbrainchangesassociatedwithoverweightandobesity