Localized brain volume and white matter integrity alterations in adolescent anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
The neurobiological underpinnings of anorexia nervosa (AN) are poorly understood. In this study, we tested whether brain gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in adolescents with AN would show alterations comparable to those in adults.


METHODS
We used magnetic resonance imaging to study GM and WM volume, and diffusion tensor imaging to assess fractional anisotropy for WM integrity in 19 adolescents with AN and 22 controls.


RESULTS
Individuals with AN showed greater left orbitofrontal, right insular, and bilateral temporal cortex GM, as well as temporal lobe WM volumes compared to controls. WM integrity in adolescents with AN was lower (lower fractional anisotropy) in fornix, posterior frontal, and parietal areas, but higher in anterior frontal, orbitofrontal, and temporal lobes. In individuals with AN, orbitofrontal GM volume correlated negatively with sweet taste pleasantness. An additional comparison of this study cohort with adult individuals with AN and healthy controls supported greater orbitofrontal cortex and insula volumes in AN across age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates larger orbitofrontal and insular GM volumes, as well as lower fornix WM integrity in adolescents with AN, similar to adults. The pattern of larger anteroventral GM and WM volume as well as WM integrity, but lower WM integrity in posterior frontal and parietal regions may indicate that developmental factors such as GM pruning and WM growth could contribute to brain alterations in AN. The negative correlation between taste pleasantness and orbitofrontal cortex volume in individuals with AN could contribute to food avoidance in this disorder.
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine. Electronic address: Guido.Frank@ucdenver.edu.
Guido K W
GK
Frank
Megan E
ME
Shott
Jennifer O
JO
Hagman
Tony T
TT
Yang
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
anorexia nervosa; brain; gray matter; white matter