Central adiposity is negatively associated with hippocampal-dependent relational memory among overweight and obese children

Naiman A. Khan, Carol L. Baym, Jim M. Monti, Lauren B. Raine, Eric S. Drollette, Mark R. Scudder, R. Davis Moore, Arthur F. Kramer, Charles H. Hillman, Neal J. Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective To assess associations between adiposity and hippocampal-dependent and hippocampal-independent memory forms among prepubertal children. Study design Prepubertal children (age 7-9 years; n = 126), classified as non-overweight (<85th percentile body mass index [BMI]-for-age [n = 73]) or overweight/obese (≥85th percentile BMI-for-age [n = 53]), completed relational (hippocampal-dependent) and item (hippocampal-independent) memory tasks. Performance was assessed with both direct (behavioral accuracy) and indirect (preferential disproportionate viewing [PDV]) measures. Adiposity (ie, percent whole-body fat mass, subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue, and total abdominal adipose tissue) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Backward regression identified significant (P <.05) predictive models of memory performance. Covariates included age, sex, pubertal timing, socioeconomic status (SES), IQ, oxygen consumption, and BMI z-score. Results Among overweight/obese children, total abdominal adipose tissue was a significant negative predictor of relational memory behavioral accuracy, and pubertal timing together with SES jointly predicted the PDV measure of relational memory. In contrast, among non-overweight children, male sex predicted item memory behavioral accuracy, and a model consisting of SES and BMI z-score jointly predicted the PDV measure of relational memory. Conclusion Regional, but not whole-body, fat deposition was selectively and negatively associated with hippocampal-dependent relational memory among overweight/obese prepubertal children.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)302-308.e1
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume166
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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