Anorexia is one of the mental illnesses. More and more children and young people are affected by the eating disorder. A current study shows for the first time the serious consequences for the brain.
Anorexia is considered to be the most common eating disorder in Germany. According to figures from the market research company Statista, 7,218 cases of this eating disorder were diagnosed in German hospitals in 2018.1 The number of unreported victims is likely to be much higher. The eating disorder is considered particularly dangerous because it can lead to death if left untreated. A large international study now shows that anorexia even has serious consequences for the brain.
Brain changes due to anorexia
Anorexia is often referred to in German as anorexia, which is derived from the Latin term anorexia nervosa. The disease usually develops during puberty (sometimes even in childhood). The main feature is a disturbed self-image, because those affected perceive themselves as too fat – even if they are already underweight. And so they keep starving themselves without ever being satisfied with the way they look. This leads to a permanent undersupply of nutrients, which even damages the brain in the long run, as scientists from the British University of Bath found out.2
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In the largest study of its kind to date, scans of 1,648 women’s brains from 22 different regions of the world were analyzed. 685 of the subjects suffered from anorexia. “We worked extensively with research teams around the world for several years on this study,” says lead psychologist Esther Walton of the University of Bath. By evaluating thousands of brain scans of people with anorexia, the brain changes might be examined in detail, the scientist explains.
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Nutrient deficiencies might trigger brain shrinkage
Analyzing the scans, the researchers found that women with anorexia in the brain had less cortical thickness, as well as less volume at the subcortical and cortical surfaces. In other words, the brain had shrunk compared to healthy women. Even more frightening is the fact that the negative effects on brain volume and structure from anorexia are two to four times greater than, for example, from depressions.
The researchers are not yet able to say exactly why this is so. However, they suspect that the low body mass index (BMI) of those affected and the permanent undersupply of nutrients are responsible for this. By the way, a BMI of less than 17.5 is considered anorexic.
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Brain can regenerate following anorexia
Despite the frightening realization, there are also positive things to report. Because the brain scans also show that people who are in therapy and are on the mend have fewer brain changes. “We found that the decline in brain structure that we observed in those affected was less noticeable in patients who were already on the road to recovery,” study leader Esther Walton said in a university statement.3 This is a good sign and possibly an indication that the negative changes are not permanent. “With the right treatment, the brain can possibly recover,” adds the expert.
The finding makes it clear how important it is that anorexic people start therapy as early as possible. According to the motto: the earlier, the better – also for the brain! The researchers are now hoping for further studies to find out exactly what causes the brain to shrink in anorexia. In this way, better treatment approaches can be developed to combat the causes.
