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The Influence of Adipose Tissue on Brain Development, Cognition, and Risk of Neurodegenerative Disorders

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Obesity and Brain Function

Part of the book series: Advances in Neurobiology ((NEUROBIOL,volume 19))

Abstract

The brain is a highly metabolic organ and thus especially vulnerable to changes in peripheral metabolism, including those induced by obesity-associated adipose tissue dysfunction. In this context, it is likely that the development and maturation of neurocognitive circuits may also be affected and modulated by metabolic environmental factors, beginning in utero. It is currently recognized that maternal obesity, either pre-gestational or gestational, negatively influences fetal brain development and elevates the risk of cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disorders in the offspring. During infancy and adolescence, obesity remains a limiting factor for healthy neurodevelopment, especially affecting executive functions but also attention, visuospatial ability, and motor skills. In middle age, obesity seems to induce an accelerated brain aging and thus may increase the risk of age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. In this chapter we review and discuss experimental and clinical evidence focusing on the influence of adipose tissue dysfunction on neurodevelopment and cognition across lifespan, as well as some possible mechanistic links, namely the role of the most well studied adipokines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physiology, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences—IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Liliana Letra

  2. Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal

    Liliana Letra

  3. Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Isabel Santana

  4. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Isabel Santana

  5. CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Isabel Santana

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  1. Liliana Letra
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Correspondence to Liliana Letra .

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  1. Institute of Physiology, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences—IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Liliana Letra

  2. Institute of Physiology, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences—IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Raquel Seiça

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Letra, L., Santana, I. (2017). The Influence of Adipose Tissue on Brain Development, Cognition, and Risk of Neurodegenerative Disorders. In: Letra, L., Seiça, R. (eds) Obesity and Brain Function. Advances in Neurobiology, vol 19. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63260-5_6

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