BDNF and BMI effects on brain structures of bipolar offspring: results from the global mood and brain science initiative

Abstract

Offspring status and BMI moderate the association between BDNF levels and brain structures among bipolar offspring, underscoring BDNF regulation and overweight/obesity as key moderators of BD pathogenesis.

Brain structural networks and connectomes: the brain–obesity interface and its impact on mental health

“… 3 , 5 – 7 Furthermore, available data indicate that obesity differentially affects individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders, influencing illness trajectory and progression. 8 – 11 Notwithstanding, the mediators of the association between obesity and adverse brain function are insufficiently characterized. Replicated evidence suggests that the metabolic–immunoinflammatory interface is a critical moderator of the differential effects of obesity on individuals with a neuropsychiatric illness.…”

“… 16 Moreover, the convergence of replicated evidence indicating that overweight/obesity influences structural and functional changes in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders (eg, anxiety and depression), provides a basis for hypothesizing that overweight/obesity alters brain structure and function, increasing the brain’s propensity toward disturbances in mood and cognition. 8 , 16 – 18 …”

Are serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations related to brain structure and psychopathology in late childhood and early adolescence?

“…Although in adults with schizophrenia, BDNF has been associated with cortical thickness 20,46 and hippocampal volume, 21 the literature investigating the relationship between peripheral concentrations of BDNF and brain structures in children and adolescents remains scant. Although an association between peripheral BDNF concentrations and brain volumes and cortical areas was observed in a study of bipolar offspring and healthy controls, 19 another study did not find differences between BDNF serum concentrations and hippocampal volume in children and adolescents diagnosed with bipolar disorder. 22 Table 1.…”

“…21 However, other studies of individuals with bipolar disorder showed no correlation between BDNF concentrations and hippocampal volumes in children, 22 and no association between BDNF and gray matter volumes in adults. 23 In 1 study, peripheral BDNF concentrations and brain volumes (including cortical areas) were correlated negatively in bipolar offspring but positively in healthy controls 19 ; suggesting the need for larger studies investigating interactive effects between psychopathology and serum BDNF in predicting brain volumes.…”

“…A growing literature reports structural brain changes related to serum BDNF concentrations, and psychiatric illnesses, [18][19][20][21] with conflicting results. In individuals with schizophrenia, higher peripheral blood concentrations of BDNF have been correlated with thinner prefrontal cortical thickness 20 and increased hippocampal volume.…”