Hormonal imbalances in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) may reshape brain development and increase the risk of obesity, according to a new study led by researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), with support from the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI). By combining advanced brain imaging and metabolic testing, the team found that children and teens with CAH showed changes in brain regions tied to impulse control, along with higher levels of belly fat and inflammation.
These findings suggest that CAH’s genetic and hormonal factors can influence both how the brain develops and how the body manages weight, highlighting the need for comprehensive care that addresses both metabolic and neurological health in affected children. “Obesity begins at a very young age in a significant number of these patients, especially the more severely affected, and then it’s a lifelong struggle from childhood through adulthood,” said Mimi Kim, M.D., M.Sc., Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and CHLA.
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