Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Brain Structure in Acutely Underweight and Partially Weight-Restored Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa: A Coordinated Analysis by the ENIGMA Eating Disorders Working Group.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Walton, E; Bernardoni, F; Batury, V-L; Bahnsen, K; Larivière, S; Abbate-Daga, G; Andres-Perpiña, S; Bang, L; Bischoff-Grethe, A; Brooks, SJ ...
Published in: Biol Psychiatry
November 1, 2022

BACKGROUND: The pattern of structural brain abnormalities in anorexia nervosa (AN) is still not well understood. While several studies report substantial deficits in gray matter volume and cortical thickness in acutely underweight patients, others find no differences, or even increases in patients compared with healthy control subjects. Recent weight regain before scanning may explain some of this heterogeneity. To clarify the extent, magnitude, and dependencies of gray matter changes in AN, we conducted a prospective, coordinated meta-analysis of multicenter neuroimaging data. METHODS: We analyzed T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging scans assessed with standardized methods from 685 female patients with AN and 963 female healthy control subjects across 22 sites worldwide. In addition to a case-control comparison, we conducted a 3-group analysis comparing healthy control subjects with acutely underweight AN patients (n = 466) and partially weight-restored patients in treatment (n = 251). RESULTS: In AN, reductions in cortical thickness, subcortical volumes, and, to a lesser extent, cortical surface area were sizable (Cohen's d up to 0.95), widespread, and colocalized with hub regions. Highlighting the effects of undernutrition, these deficits were associated with lower body mass index in the AN sample and were less pronounced in partially weight-restored patients. CONCLUSIONS: The effect sizes observed for cortical thickness deficits in acute AN are the largest of any psychiatric disorder investigated in the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) Consortium to date. These results confirm the importance of considering weight loss and renutrition in biomedical research on AN and underscore the importance of treatment engagement to prevent potentially long-lasting structural brain changes in this population.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1873-2402

Publication Date

November 1, 2022

Volume

92

Issue

9

Start / End Page

730 / 738

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Thinness
  • Psychiatry
  • Prospective Studies
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • Brain
  • Anorexia Nervosa
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Walton, E., Bernardoni, F., Batury, V.-L., Bahnsen, K., Larivière, S., Abbate-Daga, G., … Ehrlich, S. (2022). Brain Structure in Acutely Underweight and Partially Weight-Restored Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa: A Coordinated Analysis by the ENIGMA Eating Disorders Working Group. Biol Psychiatry, 92(9), 730–738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.04.022
Walton, Esther, Fabio Bernardoni, Victoria-Luise Batury, Klaas Bahnsen, Sara Larivière, Giovanni Abbate-Daga, Susana Andres-Perpiña, et al. “Brain Structure in Acutely Underweight and Partially Weight-Restored Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa: A Coordinated Analysis by the ENIGMA Eating Disorders Working Group.Biol Psychiatry 92, no. 9 (November 1, 2022): 730–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.04.022.
Walton E, Bernardoni F, Batury V-L, Bahnsen K, Larivière S, Abbate-Daga G, et al. Brain Structure in Acutely Underweight and Partially Weight-Restored Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa: A Coordinated Analysis by the ENIGMA Eating Disorders Working Group. Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 1;92(9):730–8.
Walton, Esther, et al. “Brain Structure in Acutely Underweight and Partially Weight-Restored Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa: A Coordinated Analysis by the ENIGMA Eating Disorders Working Group.Biol Psychiatry, vol. 92, no. 9, Nov. 2022, pp. 730–38. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.04.022.
Walton E, Bernardoni F, Batury V-L, Bahnsen K, Larivière S, Abbate-Daga G, Andres-Perpiña S, Bang L, Bischoff-Grethe A, Brooks SJ, Campbell IC, Cascino G, Castro-Fornieles J, Collantoni E, D’Agata F, Dahmen B, Danner UN, Favaro A, Feusner JD, Frank GKW, Friederich H-C, Graner JL, Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Hess A, Horndasch S, Kaplan AS, Kaufmann L-K, Kaye WH, Khalsa SS, LaBar KS, Lavagnino L, Lazaro L, Manara R, Miles AE, Milos GF, Monteleone AM, Monteleone P, Mwangi B, O’Daly O, Pariente J, Roesch J, Schmidt UH, Seitz J, Shott ME, Simon JJ, Smeets PAM, Tamnes CK, Tenconi E, Thomopoulos SI, van Elburg AA, Voineskos AN, von Polier GG, Wierenga CE, Zucker NL, Jahanshad N, King JA, Thompson PM, Berner LA, Ehrlich S. Brain Structure in Acutely Underweight and Partially Weight-Restored Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa: A Coordinated Analysis by the ENIGMA Eating Disorders Working Group. Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 1;92(9):730–738.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1873-2402

Publication Date

November 1, 2022

Volume

92

Issue

9

Start / End Page

730 / 738

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Thinness
  • Psychiatry
  • Prospective Studies
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • Brain
  • Anorexia Nervosa