Effects of obesity on aging brain and cognitive decline: A cohort study from the UK Biobank.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the impact of obesity on brain structure and cognition using large neuroimaging and genetic data.

Methods

Associations between body mass index (BMI), gray matter volume (GMV), whiter matter hyper-intensities (WMH), and fluid intelligence score (FIS) were estimated in 30283 participants from the UK Biobank. Longitudinal data analysis was conducted. Genome-wide association studies were applied to explore the genetic loci associations among BMI, GMV, WMH, and FIS. Mendelian Randomization analyses were applied to further estimate the effects of obesity on changes in the brain and cognition.

Results

The observational analysis revealed that BMI was negatively associated with GMV (r = -0.15, p < 1 × 10^-24) and positively associated with WM

SUBMITTER: Li P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11786748 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature