Topological Properties of Brain Structure Network in Obese Adolescents Based on Graph Theory Analysis
10.3969/j.issn.1005-5185.2025.09.010
- VernacularTitle:基于图论分析的肥胖青少年脑结构网络拓扑属性研究
- Author:
Xin WANG
1
;
Ruizhu WANG
1
;
Qian LI
1
;
Fei YANG
1
;
Ying WANG
1
Author Information
1. 南京医科大学附属儿童医院放射科,江苏 南京 210008
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Pediatric obesity;
Adolescent;
Metabolic syndrome;
Magnetic resonance imaging;
Diffusion tensor imaging;
Network topology attributes
- From:
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging
2025;33(9):960-966
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Purpose To investigate the change of network topology attribute of brain structure in obese adolescents using graph theory analysis.Materials and Methods A total of 86 obese adolescents in Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2023 to April 2024 were prospectively collected,including 60 patients in the simple obesity group(OB group),26 patients in the obese group with metabolic syndrome(MS group).Meanwhile,24 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group.Diffusion tensor imaging scan of the head,anthropological characteristics examination and blood test were performed.The differences of global and local topology properties among the three groups were compared.Global or node attributes with statistical differences were correlated with clinical indicators.Results There were significant differences in body height,body weight,body mass index,waist circumference,diastolic blood pressure,systolic blood pressure and high density lipoprotein cholesterol among the three groups(χ2/F=3.208-5.085,all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,there were significant differences in total body fat,triglyceride,total cholesterol,alanine amino-transferase,aspartate aminotransferase and fasting insulin between the OB group and the MS group(all P<0.05).No statistically significant differences were observed in the small world attribute,shortest path length and global efficiency among the three groups(all P>0.05).A statistically significant difference was observed in the clustering coefficient and local efficiency among the three groups(F=2.534,3.012,both P<0.05),with the values of clustering coefficient and local efficiency of OB group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).The node attribute differences occurred in the left frontal lobe,right insula,right anterior central gyrus,left anterior cingulate gyrus,left anterior cuneus and bilateral occipital lobes.The connection value between module Association and Limbic in control group was significantly lower smaller than those of the OB group(P=0.033).A negative correlation was observed between local efficiency and age(r=-0.239),body weight(r=-0.254),body mass index(r=-0.230)and waist circumference(r=-0.263,all P<0.05).The modularity was negatively correlated with fasting insulin(r=-0.325,P<0.05).Conclusion Adolescent obesity leads to the abnormal topological properties of structural network in some brain regions,which may be associated with the abnormal cognitive function and could provide neuroimaging evidence for clinical intervention.
