Pilot Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Executive Function, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among Adults with Excess Adiposity
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may predict markers of neurocognitive performance (i.e., executive function; EF) and brain health/plasticity (i.e., brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BDNF). This pilot examined: (1) ACES history and current EF performance, (2) ACEs history and current BDNF level...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Obesities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4168/2/3/22 |
| _version_ | 1797483934217404416 |
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| author | Cindy E. Tsotsoros Madison E. Stout Austin R. Medlin Laurie Wideman Dolores Vazquez Sanroman Chibing Tan T. Kent Teague Misty A. W. Hawkins |
| author_facet | Cindy E. Tsotsoros Madison E. Stout Austin R. Medlin Laurie Wideman Dolores Vazquez Sanroman Chibing Tan T. Kent Teague Misty A. W. Hawkins |
| author_sort | Cindy E. Tsotsoros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may predict markers of neurocognitive performance (i.e., executive function; EF) and brain health/plasticity (i.e., brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BDNF). This pilot examined: (1) ACES history and current EF performance, (2) ACEs history and current BDNF levels, and (3) current EF performance and BDNF levels. We hypothesized that higher ACEs would be associated with lower EF scores and that these patterns would be associated with serum BDNF levels. Given the pilot nature of the study, emphasis was placed on effect size vs. significance. Participants were 37 middle-aged women. Higher ACEs were not directly associated with EF scores (<i>β</i> = 0.08, <i>p</i> = 0.635) but showed potentially meaningful negative beta coefficients with proBDNF levels (<i>β</i> = −0.22, <i>p</i> = 0.200) and positive coefficients with mature BDNF (<i>β</i> = 0.28, <i>p</i> = 0.094). EF scores and proBDNF showed a positive relationship that did not reach significance (<i>r</i> = 0.28, <i>p</i> = 0.100) similar to EF scores and mature BDNF (<i>r</i> = 0.14, <i>p</i> = 0.406). In a modest pilot sample of middle-aged women with excess weight, higher ACEs were potentially associated with lower proBDNF and higher mature BDNF. Larger follow-up studies are warranted given the size of the detected coefficients and theoretical implications of ACEs and obesity as neurocognitively toxic for brain health and performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:54:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6563cc770058481aae2ac787eb8c2e56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4168 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:54:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Obesities |
| spelling | doaj.art-6563cc770058481aae2ac787eb8c2e562023-11-23T18:13:50ZengMDPI AGObesities2673-41682022-08-012327628410.3390/obesities2030022Pilot Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Executive Function, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among Adults with Excess AdiposityCindy E. Tsotsoros0Madison E. Stout1Austin R. Medlin2Laurie Wideman3Dolores Vazquez Sanroman4Chibing Tan5T. Kent Teague6Misty A. W. Hawkins7Department of Human Development & Family Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USADepartment of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074, USADepartment of Health & Wellness Design, School of Public Health, Indiana University, 1025 E. 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USADepartment of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USAOSU Center for Health Sciences, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Tulsa, OK 74107, USAIntegrative Immunology Center, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK 74107, USAIntegrative Immunology Center, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK 74107, USADepartment of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074, USAAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may predict markers of neurocognitive performance (i.e., executive function; EF) and brain health/plasticity (i.e., brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BDNF). This pilot examined: (1) ACES history and current EF performance, (2) ACEs history and current BDNF levels, and (3) current EF performance and BDNF levels. We hypothesized that higher ACEs would be associated with lower EF scores and that these patterns would be associated with serum BDNF levels. Given the pilot nature of the study, emphasis was placed on effect size vs. significance. Participants were 37 middle-aged women. Higher ACEs were not directly associated with EF scores (<i>β</i> = 0.08, <i>p</i> = 0.635) but showed potentially meaningful negative beta coefficients with proBDNF levels (<i>β</i> = −0.22, <i>p</i> = 0.200) and positive coefficients with mature BDNF (<i>β</i> = 0.28, <i>p</i> = 0.094). EF scores and proBDNF showed a positive relationship that did not reach significance (<i>r</i> = 0.28, <i>p</i> = 0.100) similar to EF scores and mature BDNF (<i>r</i> = 0.14, <i>p</i> = 0.406). In a modest pilot sample of middle-aged women with excess weight, higher ACEs were potentially associated with lower proBDNF and higher mature BDNF. Larger follow-up studies are warranted given the size of the detected coefficients and theoretical implications of ACEs and obesity as neurocognitively toxic for brain health and performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4168/2/3/22cognitive functionobesityoverweightadverse childhood experiencesearly life adversityneurotrophins |
| spellingShingle | Cindy E. Tsotsoros Madison E. Stout Austin R. Medlin Laurie Wideman Dolores Vazquez Sanroman Chibing Tan T. Kent Teague Misty A. W. Hawkins Pilot Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Executive Function, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among Adults with Excess Adiposity Obesities cognitive function obesity overweight adverse childhood experiences early life adversity neurotrophins |
| title | Pilot Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Executive Function, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among Adults with Excess Adiposity |
| title_full | Pilot Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Executive Function, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among Adults with Excess Adiposity |
| title_fullStr | Pilot Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Executive Function, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among Adults with Excess Adiposity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pilot Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Executive Function, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among Adults with Excess Adiposity |
| title_short | Pilot Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Executive Function, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among Adults with Excess Adiposity |
| title_sort | pilot associations between adverse childhood experiences executive function and brain derived neurotrophic factor bdnf among adults with excess adiposity |
| topic | cognitive function obesity overweight adverse childhood experiences early life adversity neurotrophins |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4168/2/3/22 |
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