Emotional and behavioral problems accelerate hypothalamic development from childhood to adolescence: Findings from a longitudinal cohort study

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders Vol. 371; pp. 124 - 133
• Main Authors: Wang, Yanpei, Ma, Leilei, Wang, Jiali, Liu, Ningyu, Men, Weiwei, Tan, Shuping, Gao, Jia-Hong, Qin, Shaozheng, He, Yong, Dong, Qi, Tao, Sha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.02.2025
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child Development - physiology; Cohort Studies; Developmental trajectory; Emotional and behavioral problems; Emotions - physiology; Female; Humans; Hypothalamic subregion; Hypothalamus - diagnostic imaging; Longitudinal cohort; Longitudinal Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Problem Behavior; Psychiatric/Mental Health; Developmental trajectory; Longitudinal cohort; Hypothalamic subregion; Emotional and behavioral problems
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.014

Despite the pivotal role of the hypothalamus in regulating various physiological processes, our understanding of its developmental trajectory and subregional organization during childhood and adolescence remains limited, as well as how emotional and behavioral problems can impact hypothalamic development, potentially leading to neurodevelopmental disorders. This population-based longitudinal cohort study utilized data from a representative sample of 702 children, who were followed two to five times. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Linear mixed models were employed to delineate developmental trajectories and behavioral regulation. Using an automated segmentation technique, we quantified the volumes and asymmetries of the hypothalamus and its subregions in a large longitudinal sample of 702 subjects aged 6–15 years with 1371 MRI scans, and mapped their developmental trajectories. Our findings indicate that while the anterior and posterior regions of the hypothalamus exhibit a tendency toward decline, the tubular region demonstrates a linear increase which is influenced by lateralization, sex, and intracranial volume. Furthermore, emotional and behavioral problems - particularly emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems - accelerate development in superior tubular and anterior-superior regions. In this study, we initially delineated the developmental trajectories of the hypothalamus and its subregions from childhood to adolescence based on a longitudinal cohort study. Our findings revealed that the development of hypothalamus followed the pattern of “lateral early to medial late, and dorsomedial early to ventromedial late”, and the emotional and behavioral problems accelerate hypothalamic development. This study provides preliminary evidence regarding the impact of emotional and behavioral problems on the dynamic development of the hypothalamus, offering a crucial foundation for future prevention and intervention strategies targeting cognitive and emotional behavioral problems. •The hypothalamic development pattern followed “lateral early to medial late, dorsomedial early to ventromedial late”.•The lateralization, sex, and intracranial volume affected the development of hypothalamus.•The emotional and behavioral problems accelerated hypothalamic development.