Associations of radiologic characteristics of the neonatal hypothalamus with early life adiposity gain

BackgroundThe mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) is a key brain area for regulation of energy balance. Previous neuroimaging studies suggest that T2-based signal properties indicative of cellular inflammatory response (gliosis) are present in adults and children with obesity, and predicts greater adiposity gain in children at risk of obesity.Objectives/MethodsThe current study aimed to extend this concept to the early life period by considering if, in full-term healthy neonates (up to n = 35), MRI evidence of MBH gliosis is associated with changes in early life (neonatal to six months) body fat percentage measured by DXA.ResultsIn this initial study, neonatal T2 signal in the MBH was positively associated with six-month changes in body fat percentage.ConclusionThis finding supports the notion that underlying processes in the MBH may play a role in early life growth and, by extension, childhood obesity risk.