Brain imaging and eating disorders

• Published in: Annales de médecine interne Vol. 153; no. 7 Suppl; p. 2S62
• Main Authors: Berthoz, Sylvie, Ringuenet, Damien, Corcos, Maurice, Martinot, Jean-Luc, Jeammet, Philippe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.11.2002
• Subjects: Animals; Brain - physiopathology; Diagnostic Imaging; Feeding and Eating Disorders - diagnosis; Feeding and Eating Disorders - etiology; Feeding and Eating Disorders - physiopathology; Humans
• ISSN: 0003-410X

Among the brain imaging studies that have been conducted in eating disorder patients, some focused on the morphological alterations associated with these disorders, and others aimed at investigating functional cerebral alterations of these patients. However, very few studied the links between the observed morphological and functional alterations and cognitive functioning of these patients more specifically. Here we report the results provided by the various brain neuroimaging techniques that were used to assess brain structure and functioning, and neuroendocrine dysregulation of eating disorders patients. A number of abnormalities evidenced by neuroimaging studies, notably the structural ones, do not seem completely reversible with clinical improvement. This article stresses the need for more imaging studies examining to which extent these alterations are reversible. Based on animal and human literature describing the neural bases of eating behavior, that highlight potential pathophysiological mechanisms that may be involved in the etiology of eating disorders, we will try to determine how understanding eating disorders pathophysiology could benefit from the use of neuroimaging.