Early life factors and hippocampal functional connectivity in children with overweight/obesity
Authors' conclusion
Our findings suggest that birth weight at birth and breastfeeding are associated with hippocampal connectivity in children with overweight/obesity. Despite this, how the results relate to academic performance remains a matter of speculation. Our findings suggest that clinicians should recognize the importance early life factors for potentially avoiding consequences on offspring's brain development.
Study context
- Population
- Children with overweight/obesity aged 8–11 years (10.01 ± 1.14), ActiveBrains project
- Participants
- 96 children
- Outcome
- Hippocampal functional connectivity associated with early life factors
Methodological detailsActiveBrains project, hippocampal seed-based resting-state fMRI, Family-Wise Error corrected, Neonatal data from birth records; breastfeeding reported by parents, 3.0 Tesla MRI: T1-weighted and resting-state functional images
- ActiveBrains project
- Hippocampal seed-based resting-state fMRI
- Family-Wise Error corrected
- Neonatal data from birth records; breastfeeding reported by parents
- 3.0 Tesla MRI: T1-weighted and resting-state functional images
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Birth weight positively associated with hippocampus connectivity with pre- and postcentral gyri and cerebellum
- Breastfeeding negatively associated with hippocampus connectivity with primary motor cortex and angular gyrus
- Any breastfeeding positively associated with hippocampus connectivity with middle temporal gyrus
- Family-Wise Error corrected
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Academic performance (Woodcock-Muñoz test)
- None of the connectivity outcomes related to early life factors was coupled with better academic abilities
- all p > 0.05
Original publication
Early life factors and hippocampal functional connectivity in children with overweight/obesity. Pediatr Obes. Published 27 December 2022. doi:10.
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