Additive effects of depression and obesity on neural correlates of inhibitory control.

Robert Kleemann, Emma Custers, Debby Vreeken, Lisa-Katrin Kaufmann, Maximilian Wiesmann, Esther Aarts, Amanda J Kiliaan, Eric J Hazebroek, Jessica Snabel, Martine C Morrison

Journal: Journal of affective disorders 2024;362():174-185

PMID: 38960334

Free Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Depression and obesity are associated with impaired inhibitory control. Behavioral evidence indicates an exacerbating additive effect when both conditions co-occur. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. Moreover, systemic inflammation affects neurocognitive performance in both individuals with depression and obesity. Here, we investigate additive effects of depression and obesity on neural correlates of inhibitory control, and examine inflammation as a connecting pathway.

METHODS

We assessed inhibitory control processing in 64 individuals with obesity and varying degrees of depressed mood by probing neural activation and connectivity during an fMRI Stroop task. Additionally, we explored associations of altered neural responses with individual differences in systemic inflammation. Data were collected as part of the BARICO (Bariatric surgery Rijnstate and Radboudumc neuroimaging and Cognition in Obesity) study.

RESULTS

Concurrent depression and obesity were linked to increased functional connectivity between the supplementary motor area and precuneus and between the inferior occipital and inferior parietal gyrus. Exploratory analysis revealed that circulating inflammation markers, including plasma leptin, IL-6, IL-8, and CCL-3 correlated with the additive effect of depression and obesity on altered functional connectivity.

LIMITATIONS

The observational design limits causal inferences. Future research employing longitudinal or intervention designs is required to validate these findings and elucidate causal pathways.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest increased neural crosstalk underlying impaired inhibitory control in individuals with concurrent obesity and depressed mood. Our results support a model of an additive detrimental effect of concurrent depression and obesity on neurocognitive functioning, with a possible role of inflammation.

Address: Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.; Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior and Radboudumc Alzheimer Center, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Bariatric Surgery, Vitalys, part of Rijnstate hospital, Arnhem, the Netherlands.; Department of Metabolic Health Research, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, the Netherlands.; Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior and Radboudumc Alzheimer Center, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.; Department of Bariatric Surgery, Vitalys, part of Rijnstate hospital, Arnhem, the Netherlands; Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.; Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior and Radboudumc Alzheimer Center, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.093

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Male, Female, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Obesity, Adult, Inhibition, Psychological, Depression, Middle Aged, Inflammation, Brain, Stroop Test, Parietal Lobe