Habenular and mediodorsal thalamic connectivity predict persistent weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG)‐induced changes in connectivity between regions involved with reward/antireward and cognitive control and the extent to which these changes persist after surgery and predict sustainable weight loss. Methods Whole‐brain local functional connectivity density (lFCD) was studied in 25 participants with obesity who underwent resting‐state functional MRI before (PreLSG), 1 month after (PostLSG 1 ), and 12 months after (PostLSG 12 ) LSG and compared with 25 normal‐weight controls. Regions with significant time effects of LSG on functional connectivity density were identified for subsequent seed‐based connectivity analyses and to examine associations with behavior. Results LSG significantly increased lFCD in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD) and in the habenula (Hb) at PostLSG 12 compared with PreLSG/PostLSG 1 , whereas it decreased lFCD in the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PreCun) at PostLSG 1 /PostLSG 12 , and these changes were associated with reduction in BMI. In contrast, controls had no significant lFCD differences between baseline and repeated measures. MD had stronger connectivity with PreCun and Hb at PostLSG 12 compared with PreLSG/PostLSG 1 , and the increased MD‐left PreCun and Hb‐MD connectivity correlated with decreases in hunger and BMI, respectively. PCC/PreCun had stronger connectivity with the insula at PostLSG 1‐12 . Conclusions The findings highlight the importance of reward and interoceptive regions as well as that of regions mediating negative emotions in the long‐term therapeutic benefits of LSG.