Poster No:
701
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Shana Adise1, Christopher Machle1, Kevin Myers2, Jonatan Ottino-Gonzalez1, Michael Goran1, Elizabeth Sowell1
Institutions:
1CHLA, Los Angeles, CA, 2Bucknell, Lewisburg, PA
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
In animal and human models, stress has been negatively associated with brain development, which in turn has adverse health effects. Yet, disentangling the effects of stress on the brain and adverse health outcomes is complex. Chronic stress alters the normal neurobiological response and increases obesity risk due to its association with triggering food intake, while weight gain has been associated with altered neurodevelopment. Ample evidence for lasting impacts of early-life stress, but qualitatively different stressors may have unique influence at different points in development. Therefore, in the current study we focus on one particular stressor – financial adversity – and its association with developing adolescent brain structure as a risk factor for obesity. Importantly, our sample focused on youth who initially were of a healthy weight to allow for insight into how these associations may relate to progression of weight gain.
Methods:
Data were gathered from a subset of healthy weight youth enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (nT0=3606 [59% male, 71.3% White; 15.6% Latino, aged 9/10-years-old]; nT2=2395 [51% male; 71.9% White; 16% Latino, aged 11/12-years-old] no siblings). Estimates of subcortical volume (16 regions of interest [ROI] were obtained from T1w images parcellated with the Desikan FreeSurfer atlas. Financial adversity was assessed at T0 and T2, using a caregiver-reported 7-item binary response questionnaire that asks questions on perceived inability to pay for basic life necessities. A summary score was utilized in the analyses (0=no financial adversity; 7=extreme financial adversity). Body mass index (BMI) was assessed from height and weight by a trained researcher. Multiple crossed random-effects (scanner model, subject) mixed models were conducted in Python to examine three-way interactions between Financial Adversity*ROI*Time (modeled continuously as days since the baseline visit on BMI while controlling for income-to-needs ratio, the caregiver's highest education, puberty, and intracranial volume. Sex showed no effects on weight gain (p>0.8), so it was removed from the model. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine if there were sex-specific differences in developmental trajectories of Financial Adversity*ROI*Time on BMI. Analyses were corrected using the Benjamini-Hochberg approach.
Results:
All youth were of a healthy weight at baseline, but by T2 13.3% of youth (n=319) transitioned to have overweight/obesity. Results of the mixed model revealed significant negative interactions between ROI*Time*Financial Adversity in the bilateral caudate, nucleus accumbens and right pallidum (p< 0.05, FDR corrected). In other words, in comparison to baseline, by T2, youth who experienced any financial adversity demonstrated a stronger negative relationship between subcortical volume and BMI compared to youth who did not experience financial adversity. Sensitivity analyses that examine whether these patterns differed by sex, showed no sex-specificity.
Conclusions:
The relationship between subcortical volume and BMI across time depends on financial adversity as at 9/10-years-old (i.e., baseline), these relationships were non-existent. This suggests the possibility that duration of financial adversity affect the brain and health outcomes more than severity. Moreover, findings suggest a critical window between 9-12-years-old for prevention and intervention efforts that may wish to focus on mitigating detrimental effects of stress on the brain and health outcomes. Future studies are needed to assess whether these relationships are related to other health outcomes commonly associated with financial adversity, such as increased impulsive behavior and mental health problems.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Neurodevelopmental/ Early Life (eg. ADHD, autism) 2
Education, History and Social Aspects of Brain Imaging:
Education, History and Social Aspects of Brain Imaging 1
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Social Neuroscience Other
Lifespan Development:
Early life, Adolescence, Aging
Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Metabolism and Neurotransmission:
Subcortical Structures
Keywords:
Development
Eating Disorders
MRI
PEDIATRIC
Sub-Cortical
Trauma
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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