ArticleMolecular psychiatry2021
Brain structural abnormalities in obesity: relation to age, genetic risk, and common psychiatric disorders : Evidence through univariate and multivariate mega-analysis including 6420 participants from the ENIGMA MDD working group.
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Article in Molecular psychiatry, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 71 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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71citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
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Who cites it
71 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 157 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cross disorder comparisons of brain structure in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A review of ENIGMA findings.Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences · 2022Pooled it
- ENIGMA and global neuroscience: A decade of large-scale studies of the brain in health and disease across more than 40 countries.Translational psychiatry · 2020Pooled it
- Genetic Variation in Response to the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND): A Randomized Controlled Trial.Nutrients · 2026Trial
- Associations between polygenic risk for obesity, body mass index and cognitive performance: Age as moderating factor.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2026Article
- Deciphering the causal influence of BMI and related metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular factors on brain structure: a Mendelian Randomization Study.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
- Developmental changes of the white matter functional connectome.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
- Causal relationship between obesity, leptin, and brain structure and functional connectivity: evidence based on bidirectional and mediation mendelian randomisation analyses.Nutrition & metabolism · 2026Article
- Neuroendocrine-immune perturbations in metabolic disease: pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Review
- Taming dimensionality in big neuroimaging data: Efficient orthonormal projective NMF via stochastic learning and data compression.Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.) · 2026Article
- Weight matters: Higher BMI is associated with changes in the brain connectome in health and depression.Neuroscience applied · 2026Article
- Sex-Specific Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Brain Structures Vulnerable to Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Brazilian Cohort.Brain sciences · 2025Article
- Relationship between body mass index, gray matter volume and peripheral inflammation in patients with post-COVID condition.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2025Article
- Review
- Cardiometabolic health and physical robustness map onto distinct patterns of brain structure and neurotransmitter systems.PLoS biology · 2025Article
- Attention over vulnerable brain regions associating cerebral palsy disorder and biological markers.Journal of advanced research · 2025Article
- Neuropsychiatric Abnormalities in Metabolic Disturbances: Interplay of Adipokines and Neurotransmission.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Review
- Altered gray matter structural covariance networks in young adults with obesity.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2025Article
- Exploring the molecular basis of the genetic correlation between body mass index and brain morphological traits.PLoS genetics · 2025Article
- Altered asymmetry of amygdala volume mediates food addiction and weight gain.Journal of behavioral addictions · 2025Article
- Effects of Digital Neurohabilitation on Attention and Memory in Patients with a Diagnosis of Pediatric Obesity: Case Series.Brain sciences · 2025Article
11 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
64 authors at 20 institutions in 10 countries.
Nils OpelDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. n_opel01@uni-muenster.de.
Anbupalam ThalamuthuCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Yuri MilaneschiDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC/Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Dominik GrotegerdDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Claas FlintDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5164-8227
Ramona LeeningsDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Janik GoltermannDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Maike RichterDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Tim HahnDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Georg WoditschIT Department, University of Muenster, Münster, Germany.
Klaus BergerInstitute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Marco HermesdorfInstitute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Andrew McIntoshDivision of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0198-4588
Heather C WhalleyDivision of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4505-8869
Mathew A HarrisDivision of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1135-4141
Frank P MacMasterPsychiatry and Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Henrik WalterDivision of Mind and Brain Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9403-6121
Ilya M VeerDivision of Mind and Brain Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
Thomas FrodlDepartment of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Angela CarballedoDepartment of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Axel KrugDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Igor NenadicDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Tilo KircherDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Andre AlemanDepartment of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Nynke A GroenewoldDepartment of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Dan J SteinSA MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7218-7810
Jair C SoaresUT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Giovana B Zunta-SoaresUT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Benson MwangiDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Mon-Ju WuDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0540-8027
Martin WalterDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
Meng LiDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
Ben J HarrisonMelbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Christopher G DaveyOrygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1431-3852
Kathryn R CullenDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Bonnie Klimes-DouganDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Bryon A MuellerDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2429-0391
Philipp G SämannMax Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
Brenda PenninxDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC/Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Laura NawijnDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC/Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7183-8933
Dick J VeltmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC/Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Lyubomir AftanasFSSBI "Scientific Research Institute of Physiology & Basic Medicine", Laboratory of Affective, Cognitive & Translational Neuroscience, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Ivan V BrakFSSBI "Scientific Research Institute of Physiology & Basic Medicine", Laboratory of Affective, Cognitive & Translational Neuroscience, Novosibirsk, Russia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5146-0096
Elena A FilimonovaFSSBI "Scientific Research Institute of Physiology & Basic Medicine", Laboratory of Affective, Cognitive & Translational Neuroscience, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Evgeniy A OsipovNovosibirsk State University, Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Neuroscience, Novosibirsk, Russia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4961-296X
Liesbeth RenemanDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Anouk SchranteeDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Hans J GrabeDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3684-4208
Sandra Van der AuweraDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Katharina WittfeldDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4383-5043
Norbert HostenInstitute of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Henry VölzkeInstitute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Kang SimWest Region, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3209-9626
Ian H GotlibDepartment of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Matthew D SacchetCenter for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
Jim LagopoulosSunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia.
Sean N HattonBrain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9149-8726
Ian HickieBrain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Elena PozziOrygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Paul M ThompsonMark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA.
Neda JahanshadMark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4401-8950
Lianne SchmaalOrygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Bernhard T Baune *Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Udo Dannlowski *Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
University of Münster · DEThe University of Melbourne · AUUniversitätsmedizin Greifswald · DEAmsterdam University Medical Centers · NLThe University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston · USInstitute of Physiology and Basic Medicine · RUPhilipps University of Marburg · DEUniversity of Edinburgh · GBUniversity of Minnesota · USAmsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam · NLHumboldt-Universität zu Berlin · DEJena University Hospital · DEThe University of Sydney · AUTrinity College Dublin · IEUniversity Medical Center Groningen · NLUniversity of Southern California · USHarvard University · USMax Planck Institute of Psychiatry · DENational University of Singapore · SGNovosibirsk State University · RU
Funding
ZOOMED FUNCT IMAGING IN HUMAN BRAIN AT 7T W/ SIMULT HIGH SPATIAL &TEMPORAL RESP41RR008079 · NCRR · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES · PI UGURBIL, KAMIL · 1993 to 2011
$16.3MTraining U54EB020403 · NIBIB · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI THOMPSON, PAUL M · 2014 to 2018
$10.1MIntegration of Genomics & Transcriptomics in Normal Twins & Major DepressionRC2MH089951 · NIMH · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI SULLIVAN, PATRICK F · 2009 to 2010
$6.5MCannabinoid Receptors and Associated Proteins-RenewalR01DA042157 · NIDA · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI ALLYN C HOWLETT, W TODD LOWTHER · 2017 to 2026
$5.4MGenomics of Developmental Trajectories in TwinsRC2MH089995 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · PI HUDZIAK, JAMES J. · 2009 to 2010
$3.8MENIGMA-SD: Understanding Sex Differences in Global Mental Health through ENIGMAR01MH116147 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI THOMPSON, PAUL M · 2018 to 2021
$2.5MA global alliance to unlock brain mechanisms influencing suicidal behaviors through the ENIGMA ConsortiumR01MH117601 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI JAHANSHAD, NEDA, SCHMAAL, LIANNE · 2018 to 2021
$1.5MFronto-limbic Connectivity in Adolescents with MDDK23MH090421 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · PI CULLEN, KATHRYN REGAN · 2010 to 2014
$811kMajor Depression: Stage 1 Genomewide Association in Population-Based SamplesR01MH081802 · NIMH · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI SULLIVAN, PATRICK F · 2007 to 2007
$138kNCRR NIH HHS P41 RR008079NIBIB NIH HHS U54 EB020403NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA042157NIMH NIH HHS K23 MH090421NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH081802NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH116147NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH117601NIMH NIH HHS RC2 MH089951NIMH NIH HHS RC2 MH089995Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 104036/Z/14/Z
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that obesity impacts brain physiology at multiple levels. Here we aimed to clarify the relationship between obesity and brain structure using structural MRI (n = 6420) and genetic data (n = 3907) from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) working group. Obesity (BMI > 30) was significantly associated with cortical and subcortical abnormalities in both mass-univariate and multivariate pattern recognition analyses independent of MDD diagnosis. The most pronounced effects were found for associations between obesity and lower temporo-frontal cortical thickness (maximum Cohen´s d (left fusiform gyrus) = -0.33). The observed regional distribution and effect size of cortical thickness reductions in obesity revealed considerable similarities with corresponding patterns of lower cortical thickness in previously published studies of neuropsychiatric disorders. A higher polygenic risk score for obesity significantly correlated with lower occipital surface area. In addition, a significant age-by-obesity interaction on cortical thickness emerged driven by lower thickness in older participants. Our findings suggest a neurobiological interaction between obesity and brain structure under physiological and pathological brain conditions.
Indexed as
Major Depressive DisorderAgedBrainCerebral CortexHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingObesityRisk Factors
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