Brain size

Neuroscience

Hippocampal formation

Body mass index

Alzheimer's disease

Radiology

Psychology

Hippocampus

Internal medicine

Degenerative disease

Medicine

Disease

Magnetic resonance imaging

Pathology

Neuroreport

Obesity is associated with lower brain volumes in early Alzheimer's disease, but its effects on hippocampal volumes are unclear, as weight loss is also associated with Alzheimer's disease. To address this question, we applied an automated hippocampal mapping method to brain MRI scans for 162 patients with Alzheimer's disease. We hypothesized that obesity, measured by body mass index, would be associated with lower hippocampal volumes in mildly affected patients. Statistical maps showed a selective pattern of hippocampal volume differences that were significantly associated with body mass index. Associations were detected in the anterior hippocampus, and confirmed by permutation testing. Cardiovascular risk factors, such as high body mass index, may promote additional neurodegenerative changes, and should therefore be considered in epidemiological studies and clinical trials.

Hippocampal volume is related to body mass index in Alzheimer's disease