Obesity & Brain: A Review.
The Mechanism leading to Brain Damage in Visceral Obesity.
Mechanisms of Brain Diseases Associated with Obesity.
* Image Description:
- Adipose Tissue Dysfunction in Visceral Obesity leads to the release of Adipokines and Cytokines, as well as Infiltration of Adipose Tissue by Immune Cells. All this leads to generalized Chronic Low-grade Inflammation.
- Obesity and Poor Diet (Nutrition) are also associated with changes in the Gut Microbiota (Dysbiosis), increased intestinal permeability, and alteration of the Gut-Brain Axis (A Gut-Brain communication pathway).
- All this leads to the Activation of an Immune Response due to an interaction of the Immune System with the Altered Microbiota and its Metabolic Products.
- This interaction produces Inflammatory Molecules that enter the Central Nervous System (CNS) via the bloodstream, where they can cause Neuroinflammation.
- Neuroinflammation spreads in the brain through Immune Activation (Microglia Activation or Immune Response), originating a Neurotransmitter Dysfunction that affects Cognition and Behavior, in addition to producing other Neuropsychiatric Conditions.
KEY POINTS
Visceral Obesity (Visceral Adipose Tissue - VAT) plays an important role in Immunity and is a Risk Factor for diverse Neuropsychiatric conditions.
Obesity has been shown to promote Brain Neuroinflammation and Neurodegenerative Mechanisms associated with Brain Diseases.
Visceral Obesity leads to Chronic, Low-Grade Inflammation in Childhood, that manifests in Cognitive Impairment in Older People later in life.
Research has shown that Brain Immune Cells (Microglia) and the overall Immune System play a crucial role in Brain Function, and may affect Cognition, Learning, and Social Behavior.
The study found that Cognitive Performance, especially Executive Function, is Lower in people with Obesity.
The authors emphasize the Urgent need for Prevention and Treatment strategies in Obese patients, to avoid the Neuropsychiatric Complications of Obesity.
SUMMARY
- This article provides a Comprehensive Review of the relationship between Obesity and diverse Neuropsychiatric Disorders. The authors Underline how the Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative processes associated with Obesity are closely related.
- Visceral Obesity (Visceral Adipose Tissue - VAT) plays a crucial role in Immunity and is recognized as a Risk Factor for several Neuropsychiatric Conditions.
- The Review shows how the Immune System is essential for Neurological Development and Central Nervous System (CNS) Homeostasis (Stability of functions in the CNS).
- Likewise, it explains how the Over-activation of the Immune System (such as Chronic Low-grade Inflammation) can trigger effects that manifest as Neuropsychiatric Disorders later in life.
- Microglia, which are part of the Immune System in the Brain, comprise about 10% of CNS cells and are a type of Immune Cell (Leukocytes) involved in various functions, including monitoring neuronal activity, responding to tissue damage, and maintaining the survival of brain cells.
- Research has shown that Interactions between Neurons, Microglia (Resident Immune Cells in the Brain), and the General Immune System, play a crucial role in Brain Function, affecting Cognition, Learning, and Social Behavior.
* The Chain of Events that ultimately cause Brain Damage related to Visceral Obesity is as follows:
- The accumulation of Adipocytes and Macrophages in Visceral Adipose Tissue causes the release of Cytokines and Chemokines that cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), inducing the Activation of Microglia (or Immune Response) in the Brain.
- This Immune Response of Microglia, in turn, produces Chronic Low-Grade Neuroinflammation (Chronic Brain Inflammation) trying to protect the Brain Tissue in response to cytokine stimuli, which ultimately causes Neurodegeneration and Brain Disease (Cognitive Impairment).
- The above explains how Neuroinflammation (mainly related to Visceral Obesity) is linked to Cognitive Deficits, particularly in Executive Functions.
- An example of this is Visceral Obesity in Childhood, which causes Chronic Low-grade Inflammation that manifests itself later, at an Older Age, through various Cognitive Disorders.
- At the same time, Dysfunction of the Gut Microbiota (Dysbiosis) and the Gut-Brain Axis are often associated with Visceral Obesity and Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation, so they can also contribute to triggering Cognitive Disorders in people with Obesity.
The authors conclude that Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative processes are closely linked to Visceral Obesity, and emphasize the Urgent Need for effective Prevention and Treatment strategies for Obese Patients.
* The article includes an Extensive Review of the Immune System in Neuroinflammation and subsequent Neurodegeneration of the Brain (CNS) in Visceral Obesity. If interested, you may like to review the original study at the LINK provided below.
See the Full Article at » https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/11/6145#B316-ijms-23-06145