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Obesity, Brain Volume, and White Matter Microstructure at MRI: A Cross-sectional UK Biobank Study
Dekkers IA, Jansen PR, Lamb HJ.. Radiology, 2019-04-23
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background Obesity has been associated with increased risk of accelerated cognitive decline and dementia, which suggests underlying neurobiological changes. Purpose To investigate the associations between obesity and brain structure (overall and regional brain volumes, and white matter microstructure) assessed at MRI in a sample of the general population. Materials and Methods Between March 2014 and January 2018, 12 087 participants (52.8% women [6381 of 12 087]; mean age, 62 years; age range, 45-76 years) in the prospective observational UK Biobank study underwent 3.0-T multiparametric (ie, three-dimensional T1-weighted diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]) brain imaging.
Key findings
- Purpose To investigate the associations between obesity and brain structure (overall and regional brain volumes, and white matter microstructure) assessed at MRI in a sample of the general population.
- Materials and Methods Between March 2014 and January 2018, 12 087 participants (52.8% women [6381 of 12 087]; mean age, 62 years; age range, 45-76 years) in the prospective observational UK Biobank study underwent 3.0-T multiparametric (ie, three-dimensional T1-weighted diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]) brain imaging.
- Percentage of total body fat (TBF) was assessed by body impedance.
- Volumetric measures included brain volume, gray matter volume, white matter volume, volumes of subcortical gray matter structures, and regional cortical volumes.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study examined associations between obesity and brain structure, including brain volumes and white matter microstructure, in a general population sample. It is observational, so it cannot show that weight loss prevents cognitive decline or dementia.
Study details
- Participants87
- Effect size52.8%; 24.4%; 35.5%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 55/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Radiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Radiology: journal h-index 431 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 87 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 200 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 22.2 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 13.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 75 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Hildo J. Lamb: h-index 76 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Erasmus MC: institution h-index 1,321 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31012815) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2019181012
- PubMed: 31012815
- Original source →
- Free full text: Pure Amsterdam UMC →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Dekkers, I. A., Jansen, P. R., & Lamb, H. J. (2019). Obesity, Brain Volume, and White Matter Microstructure at MRI: A Cross-sectional UK Biobank Study. Radiology. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2019181012
Vancouver
Dekkers IA, Jansen PR, Lamb HJ. Obesity, Brain Volume, and White Matter Microstructure at MRI: A Cross-sectional UK Biobank Study. Radiology. 2019. doi:10.1148/radiol.2019181012. PMID: 31012815.
BibTeX
@article{dekkers2019-31012815,
author = {Dekkers, I. A. and Jansen, P. R. and Lamb, H. J.},
title = {{Obesity, Brain Volume, and White Matter Microstructure at MRI: A Cross-sectional UK Biobank Study}},
journal = {Radiology},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1148/radiol.2019181012},
pmid = {31012815},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2019181012}
}
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