Obesity-Associated Differences in Brain Functional Connectivity in Girls with Premature Pubarche: A Preliminary Study
Applied Sciences (Switzerland), vol.16, no.18, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 16 Issue: 18
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.3390/app16189126
- Journal Name: Applied Sciences (Switzerland)
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Applied Science & Technology Source, Compendex, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Keywords: childhood obesity, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, functional connectivity, independent component analysis, premature pubarche
- Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Addressing childhood obesity and premature pubarche together is critical for understanding the systemic and neurodevelopmental consequences of early endocrine stimulation in childhood. In this study, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 11 children with premature pubarche (PP) and 7 children with both obesity and premature pubarche (OB + PP) were analyzed. Independent component analysis (ICA) was applied to identify spatially independent networks among participants. Significant components obtained from the ICA were used as seeds in the resting-state functional connectivity analysis (p < 0.001). When we examined our ICA results, we observed significant differences between our groups in 5 ICs. The regions showing differences between the groups largely overlapped with the Visual Network (VN), Dorsal Attention Network (DAN), Default Mode Network (DMN), and Salience Network (SN). In children with premature pubarche accompanied by obesity, increased functional connectivity was observed in the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC) seed in the DMN and in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) seed in the SN. Our findings suggest that PP is associated with altered functional connectivity in the DAN and SN. The observed differences in resting-state functional connectivity suggest that obesity may be associated with altered brain network organization within the premature pubarche population. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution, and longitudinal studies are needed to determine their developmental significance.