Jose Henrique Silvah1, Julio Sergio Marchini2, Cristiane Maria Mártires Lima2, Carolina Ferreira Nicoletti2, Leonardo Alexandre Santos3, Emerson Nobuyuki Itikawa3, Ana Carolina Trevisan3, Felipe Arriva Pitella3, Mery Kato3, Nelson Iucif Junior2, Fabiani Gai Frantz4, Selma Freire Carvalho Cunha2, Carlos Alberto Buchpiguel5, Lauro Wichert-Ana6. 1. Section of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Division of Medical Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: jhdasilvah@gmail.com. 2. Division of Medical Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. 3. Section of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. 4. Department of Clinical, Toxicologic and Bromatological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. 5. The Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 6. Section of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Division of Medical Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; The Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Imaging studies have shown brain abnormalities associated with eating behavior (taste perception, food intake, and food reward), neural connectivity, and cognition related to obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether obese individuals have changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during fasting and rest using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and whether these differences are associated with body fat and serum levels of leptin, insulin, and glucose. METHODS: For this purpose, rCBF assessed by ([99]mTc)-ECD-SPECT was compared between 10 obese women (30 ± 5 y of age, body fat: 38 ± 3 kg) and 10 lean women (30 ± 6 y of age, body fat: 17 ± 5 kg) using statistical parametric mapping. Pearson's coefficient and linear regression were used to search for associations among variables. RESULTS: The obese women showed antagonic rCBF in the left frontoparietal region and greater rCBF in areas related to the default mode network and the salience network (P = 0.0001). Positive linear correlations of rCBF, body fat, and the serum levels of glucose and insulin were found, but no associations were detected using linear regression. CONCLUSION: Obese women showed rCBF differences in areas related to the frontoparietal neural circuit, the default mode network, and the salience network, suggesting loss of cognitive control and a higher perception of physiologic processes, such as hunger. Hyperactivation in these areas might jeopardize the recognition of changes in energy homeostasis.
OBJECTIVES: Imaging studies have shown brain abnormalities associated with eating behavior (taste perception, food intake, and food reward), neural connectivity, and cognition related to obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether obese individuals have changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during fasting and rest using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and whether these differences are associated with body fat and serum levels of leptin, insulin, and glucose. METHODS: For this purpose, rCBF assessed by ([99]mTc)-ECD-SPECT was compared between 10 obesewomen (30 ± 5 y of age, body fat: 38 ± 3 kg) and 10 lean women (30 ± 6 y of age, body fat: 17 ± 5 kg) using statistical parametric mapping. Pearson's coefficient and linear regression were used to search for associations among variables. RESULTS: The obesewomen showed antagonic rCBF in the left frontoparietal region and greater rCBF in areas related to the default mode network and the salience network (P = 0.0001). Positive linear correlations of rCBF, body fat, and the serum levels of glucose and insulin were found, but no associations were detected using linear regression. CONCLUSION:Obesewomen showed rCBF differences in areas related to the frontoparietal neural circuit, the default mode network, and the salience network, suggesting loss of cognitive control and a higher perception of physiologic processes, such as hunger. Hyperactivation in these areas might jeopardize the recognition of changes in energy homeostasis.