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Changes in Cerebral Cortical Thickness Related to Weight Loss Following Bariatric Surgery

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Abstract

Cerebral cortical thickness is associated with memory and intelligence test scores and serves as a measure for changes in cortical gray matter. Previous studies suggest reduced cortical thickness in patients with obesity. This study aimed to investigate changes in cortical thickness following bariatric surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of five patients were analyzed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively to assess changes in global measures of cortical thickness. No patients were lost to follow-up. This study provides preliminary evidence of brain change following surgery, suggests increases in cerebral cortical thickness in patients with greater excess weight loss, and indicates the need for further investigation using larger samples and correlation with neurocognitive measures, such as memory recall.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Section of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Stanford University, 900 Blake Wilbur Drive, Room W0048, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Cara Bohon, Luis C. Garcia & John M. Morton

Authors
  1. Cara Bohon
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  2. Luis C. Garcia
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  3. John M. Morton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis C. Garcia.

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Approval for this study was provided by Stanford University’s Institutional Review Board, and participants completed written, informed consent.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Bohon, C., Garcia, L.C. & Morton, J.M. Changes in Cerebral Cortical Thickness Related to Weight Loss Following Bariatric Surgery. OBES SURG 28, 2578–2582 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-3317-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-3317-6

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