title: Beta-amyloid plasma levels in adolescents with anorexia nervosa of the restrictive type.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reduced plasma leptin and elevated homocysteine (Hcy) are known to lead to increased β-amyloid (Aβ) production, besides being hallmarks of anorexia nervosa (AN) of the restrictive type. AN subjects display several neuropsychiatric manifestations, which may entail Aβ-mediated altered synaptic functions. The aim of this study consisted in assessing Aβ plasma levels in AN patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 adolescent female AN outpatients were recruited together with 12 age-comparable healthy controls. For each subject we assessed Aβ40 and leptin plasma levels, as well as APOE genotype. Hcy plasma levels were also determined in AN patients who underwent clinical characterization, including the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the estimation of the speed of BMI loss (DPI, disease progression index).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma Aβ40 levels were similar between patients and controls, while a marked reduction was observed for leptin (∼80%) in AN patients. Aβ40 plasma levels failed to correlate with leptin, while a linear correlation was present with Hcy (r = 0.50, p < 0.03). Examined clinical features were not related with Aβ40 plasma levels, with the only exception of the DPI (r = 0.47, p < 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study does not support a significant role for altered Aβ production in AN-associated dysfunctions. Further studies are required to clarify whether exceptions to this conclusion can be drawn for those patients expressing significantly elevated Hcy plasma levels or for those progressing more rapidly.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Milan Center for Neuroscience (Neuro-MI), University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nacinovich
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bomba
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Raggi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tremolizzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D010045:Outpatients; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D020738:Leptin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); D006710:Homocysteine