#corticalthickness — Public Fediverse posts
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DATE: July 28, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Elevated body mass index might lead to lower cortical thickness, study finds
URL: https://www.psypost.org/elevated-body-mass-index-might-lead-to-lower-cortical-thickness-study-finds/
A Mendelian randomization study found that elevated body mass index might be a cause of lower cortical thickness. This was particularly prominent in the precentral and fusiform gyrus regions of the brain. The paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry.
Obesity is a chronic condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat that can impair health and well-being. It is commonly assessed using body mass index, or BMI, which is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. A BMI between 25 and 30 suggests a person is overweight, while a BMI of 30 or more indicates obesity. Although BMI is useful for population-level screening, it is a rough measure that does not directly evaluate body fat or show how fat is distributed throughout the body.
Obesity develops through an interaction of genetic, biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. In modern environments, high-calorie foods tend to be readily available while opportunities for everyday physical activity tend to be reduced. Studies provide evidence that diets based on foods rich in both easily digestible sugars and fats contribute heavily to weight gain. This is exactly the composition of many popular modern foods.
Obesity increases the risk of many adverse health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, joint problems, and some cancers. It can also affect mental health and expose people to stigma and discrimination, which may reduce their quality of life.
Study author Jodie N. Painter and her colleagues note that previous research links obesity to certain structural changes in the brain. Until now, it was unknown whether these changes preceded obesity or were the consequences of weight gain. Fat tissue secretes proteins called pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause low-grade inflammation in individuals with obesity. The researchers suspected this inflammation could potentially lead to the observed adverse changes in the brain.
The authors conducted a study using Mendelian randomization to see whether an elevated body mass index causes changes in the brain. The brain changes were measured as reduced cortical thickness, which refers to the depth of the brain’s outer layer of gray matter. Mendelian randomization is a research approach that uses naturally inherited genetic differences as proxies for environmental exposures. This helps scientists test whether an observed association is likely to reflect a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
This analysis was based on genome-wide association studies, which scan the entire genetic codes of large populations to find variations linked to specific traits. The genetic data for body mass index came from large international research consortiums that pool health information from hundreds of thousands of people. Specifically, the researchers used combined genetic data from up to 681,275 individuals of European ancestry. Data for the additional risk factors were drawn from other previously published genetic scans.
These additional factors included estimates of visceral fat, which is fat stored deep inside the belly around internal organs. The researchers also looked at fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein, a type of cholesterol that helps clear other cholesterols from the bloodstream. Finally, they included blood pressure and C-reactive protein, a substance that indicates the level of inflammation in the body.
Neuroimaging outcome data came from another massive international scientific collaborative group that studies the brain. This group provided genetic studies of global and regional cortical thickness in up to 23,183 individuals. The results showed that a higher body mass index was associated with lower average global cortical thickness. This association was particularly prominent in the precentral and fusiform gyrus regions of the brain.
The precentral gyrus controls voluntary movement, while the fusiform gyrus supports high-level visual recognition, especially of faces and words. More visceral fat and higher levels of the inflammatory blood marker C-reactive protein were also associated with lower cortical thickness. These associations tended to be stronger in areas where lower cortical thickness was already linked to a higher body mass index. In contrast, the researchers found very few associations between cortical thickness and blood pressure or metabolic blood markers.
The study authors concluded that their findings provide evidence for a causal effect of body mass index on lower cortical thickness. They recommend future research to explore how this effect on brain structure might increase the risk for neuropsychiatric conditions.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the structural brain changes induced by obesity. However, the scientists primarily investigated whether an elevated body mass index causes brain changes, rather than the reverse. A Mendelian randomization study like this can strengthen causal inferences but cannot provide definitive proof, as the research design depends on a number of assumptions.
The paper, “Deciphering the causal influence of BMI and related metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular factors on brain structure: a Mendelian Randomization Study,” was authored by Jodie N. Painter, Alexander Refisch, Moritz Rau, Martin Walter, Scott Mackey, Jennifer Laurent, Paul M. Thompson, Katrina L. Grasby, Tomas Hajek, Sarah E. Medland, and Nils Opel.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/elevated-body-mass-index-might-lead-to-lower-cortical-thickness-study-finds/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BMI #ObesityBrainLink #CorticalThickness #MendelianRandomization #BrainStructure #PrecentralGyrus #FusiformGyrus #Inflammation #NeuropsychiatricRisk #BiomedicalResearch
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DATE: July 27, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain structure differences in autism map onto serotonin receptor locations
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-structure-differences-in-autism-map-onto-serotonin-receptor-locations/
A neuroimaging study found that autistic individuals whose cortical thickness deviated most from that of neurotypical peers tended to experience greater social and communication difficulties. In autistic individuals, the cortical regions showing the greatest differences in thickness relative to neurotypical individuals also tended to have a higher density of serotonin receptors. The research provides evidence linking brain structure, neurochemistry, and behavioral traits in autism. The paper was published in Autism Research.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, processes sensory information, and experiences the world. It is called a spectrum because its characteristics and level of support needs vary widely between individuals.
Some autistic people have difficulty interpreting social cues, maintaining conversations, or understanding unwritten social rules. Others are able to communicate fluently but still find social interaction tiring, confusing, or overwhelming. Repetitive movements, strong preferences for routines, intense interests, and unusual responses to sounds, lights, textures, or smells are also common.
Autism begins early in development, although it may not be recognized until later in childhood or adulthood. It is a lifelong form of neurological difference that may bring both difficulties and strengths. Many autistic people show beneficial qualities such as strong attention to detail, deep knowledge in areas of interest, logical thinking, creativity, or exceptional memory.
Study author Livio Tarchi and his colleagues note that previous research indicates consistent structural differences between the brains of individuals with autism and their neurotypical peers. The authors suggest these differences might be connected to the brain’s neurotransmitter systems. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry signals between brain cells. The researchers specifically focused on systems using serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate.
The scientists investigated how structural differences in the brain might map onto the spatial distribution of these chemical messengers. They analyzed data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange. This public dataset contains physical measurements, behavioral assessments, and brain scans collected across twenty different sites.
The data used in this analysis came from 1,035 participants. The sample included 505 autistic individuals and 530 neurotypical individuals. The average age of participants was about 17 years old. Both groups were predominantly male, reflecting historical diagnosis patterns.
The study authors used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to calculate deviations from expected cortical thickness. Cortical thickness refers to the depth of the brain’s outer layer of gray matter, which is responsible for complex thought and sensory processing. They measured this thickness across thousands of individual points, called vertices, on the surface of the brain. These measurements were adjusted for both the sex and age of each participant.
Next, the researchers compared these structural measurements against reference maps of neurotransmitter receptor density. Receptors are protein structures on cells that receive chemical messages. These reference maps were derived from separate, previously published imaging studies. This allowed the authors to see if areas with unusual thickness in autistic individuals aligned with regions known to have high concentrations of specific neurotransmitters.
The results showed widespread deviations in cortical thickness in the brains of autistic participants compared to neurotypical participants. The structural differences tended to be larger in areas of the brain with a higher density of serotonin receptors. The researchers did not find a similar spatial link for dopamine or glutamate receptors. At the individual level, greater deviations in cortical thickness were associated with greater difficulties in social and communication domains.
These findings provide evidence for a neurobiological link between autism, brain structure, and serotonin. However, the participants in this study were mostly male. Because brain development and cortical thickness can vary by sex, studies involving more female participants might yield different results. Future research could help clarify these connections and guide tailored support strategies for autistic individuals.
The paper, “Autism and Cortical Thickness Deviation From Neurotypical Controls: Evidence for a Spatial Association With Serotonin Receptors,” was authored by Livio Tarchi, Arne Doose, Julius Hennig, Fabio Bernardoni, Joseph A. King, Tiziana Pisano, Giovanni Castellini, Valdo Ricca, Inge Kamp-Becker, and Stefan Ehrlich.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-structure-differences-in-autism-map-onto-serotonin-receptor-locations/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismBrain #CorticalThickness #SerotoninReceptors #Neuroimaging #AutismResearch #Neurodevelopment #BrainStructure #SocialCommunication #NeurotypicalVsAutistic #SerotoninMapping