Associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and mean diffusivity of the hippocampus and amygdala in infants
Authors' conclusion
These findings suggest that in utero exposure to high MBMI may influence hippocampal microstructure in infants, underscoring the need for further research on the intergenerational effects of maternal obesity on early brain development.
Study context
- Population
- Neonates (mean gestational age 39.9 weeks, mean age at scan 24.8 days) from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study
- Participants
- 122 neonates
- Exposure
- Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI
- Outcome
- Mean diffusivity of the hippocampus and amygdala
Methodological detailsbirth cohort, diffusion tensor imaging, voxelwise non-parametric permutation analysis
- Birth cohort
- Diffusion tensor imaging
- Voxelwise non-parametric permutation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Association of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI with regional MD
- Positive association between maternal BMI and hippocampal MD, particularly right hippocampus
- Voxelwise: stronger associations posterior in right hippocampus and anterior in left
- No significant association between maternal BMI and amygdala MD
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and mean diffusivity of the hippocampus and amygdala in infants. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 11 February 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →