Fat may affect magnetic resonance signal intensity and brain tissue volumes

SummaryObesity/overweight is reported to affect MR-measured brain tissue volume and white matter (WM) signal intensity. This study investigated possible effects of fat on these measures, using pig fat on three participants at a 4 T magnet. Grey matter volumes in the presence of fat were lower than baseline measures. Total WM volumes in the presence of fat were higher than baseline measures. WM hypo-intensities on T1-weighted images were higher in the presence of fat than baseline measures. Therefore physical effects of head fat of obese/overweight individual may at least, partly contribute to the association of obesity/overweight with MR structural measures.