Functional activity of the caudate mediates the relation between early childhood microstructural variations and elevated metabolic syndrome scores

Functional activity of the caudate mediates the relation between early childhood microstructural variations and elevated metabolic syndrome scores

NeuroImage

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120273

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120273

Pei Huang, Mya Thway Tint, Marissa Lee, Zhen Ming Ngoh, Peter Gluckman, Yap Seng Chong, Weiping Han, Yu Fu, Caroline Lei Wee, Marielle V. Fortier, Kai Keng Ang, Yung Seng Lee, Fabian Yap, Johan G. Eriksson, Michael J. Meaney, Ai Peng Tan

Neurology, Cognitive Neuroscience

19 July 2023

Huang, P., Tint, M. T., Lee, M., Ngoh, Z. M., Gluckman, P., Chong, Y. S., Han, W., Fu, Y., Wee, C. L., Fortier, M. V., Ang, K. K., Lee, Y. S., Yap, F., Eriksson, J. G., Meaney, M. J., & Tan, A. P. (2023). Functional activity of the caudate mediates the relation between early childhood microstructural variations and elevated metabolic syndrome scores. NeuroImage, 278, 120273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120273

Background Metabolic syndrome score in children assesses the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in future. We aim to probe the role of the caudate in relation to the metabolic syndrome score. Furthermore, using both functional and structural neuroimaging, we aim to examine the interplay between functional and structural measures. Methods A longitudinal birth cohort study with functional and structural neuroimaging data obtained at 4.5, 6.0 and 7.5 years and metabolic syndrome scores at 8.0 years was used. Pearson correlation and linear regression was used to test for correlation fractional anisotropy (FA) and fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF) of the caudate with metabolic syndrome scores. Mediation analysis was used to test if later brain measures mediated the relation between earlier brain measures and metabolic syndrome scores. Inhibitory control was also tested as a mediator of the relation between caudate brain measures and metabolic syndrome scores. Results FA at 4.5 years and fALFF at 7.5 years of the left caudate was significantly correlated with metabolic syndrome scores. Post-hoc mediation analysis showed that fALFF at 7.5 years fully mediated the relation between FA at 4.5 years and metabolic syndrome scores. Inhibitory control was significantly correlated with fALFF at 7.5 years, but did not mediate the relation between fALFF at 7.5 years and metabolic syndrome scores. Conclusions We found that variations in caudate microstructure at 4.5 years predict later variation in functional activity at 7.5 years. This later variation in functional activity fully mediates the relation between microstructural changes in early childhood and metabolic syndrome scores at 8.0 years.

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

This research / project is supported by the A*STAR - Strategic Research Program
Grant Reference no. : 21718

This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation - Translational and Clinical Research Flagship and Grant
Grant Reference no. : NMRC/TCR/004-NUS/2008

This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation - Translational and Clinical Research Flagship and Grant
Grant Reference no. : NMRC/TCR/012-NUHS/2014

This research / project is supported by the Ministry of Healths / National Medical Research Council - Open Fund Large Collaborative Grant Programmes
Grant Reference no. : OFLCG/MOH-000504

This research / project is supported by the National Medical Research Council - Transition Award
Grant Reference no. : MOH-001273-00

Hope for Depression Research Foundation, USA, and the Jacobs Foun­dation, Switzerland

https://oar.a-star.edu.sg/communities-collections/articles/19235

1053-8119

Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120273