Exploring the relationship between anxiety, sugar consumption, and gray matter volume in 5-year-olds

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are common psychiatric disorders that can emerge in early childhood. One of the coping strategies anxious individuals may adopt to manage distress is emotional eating. As the consumption of sugary foods and beverages is an effective way to improve mood, individuals with anxiety may exhibit an increased sugar intake. Anxiety disorders are associated with imbalances in the brain’s emotional centers and changes in various brain structures. Some evidence suggests that high sugar consumption may impair the brain’s reward system, but little is known about its effect on brain structures. This study aimed to examine the interplay of anxiety, sugar intake, and brain structures by employing existing structural MRI images, anxiety symptoms from Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) data, and Food Frequency Questionnaire responses from 107 five-year-old children participating in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Variations in brain structures were examined using Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM). While no significant correlation was found between anxiety and sugar consumption, both variables were significantly associated with gray matter volume alterations in distinct brain regions. Anxiety was positively correlated with gray matter volume in the left cerebellar crus II and negatively correlated in the right cerebellar crus I, right superior and middle temporal gyri, and left inferior frontal gyrus. Sugar consumption correlated positively with gray matter volume in the left postcentral gyrus, which suggest a possible link to tactile oral sensations. Brain areas associated with anxiety were observed in regions that are not typically considered part of the anxiety-related circuitry. This study adds to the limited research on gray matter volume associations with anxiety and sugar consumption in young children.