White matter alterations in anorexia nervosa: A systematic review of diffusion tensor imaging studies

Abstract

AIM:To identify findings concerning white matter (WM) fibre microstructural alterations in anorexia nervosa (AN). METHODS:A systematic electronic search was undertaken in several databases up to April 2015. The search strategy aimed to locate all studies published in English or Spanish that included participants with AN and which investigated WM using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Trials were assessed for quality assessment according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses checklist and a published quality index guideline. RESULTS:A total of 6 studies met the inclusion criteria, four of people in the acute state of the illness, one included both recovered and unwell participants, and one included people who had recovered. Participants were female with ages ranging from 14 to 29 years. All studies but one measured a range of psychopathological features. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were the main DTI correlates reported. Alterations were reported in a range of WM structures of the limbic SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS Core tip: The present systematic review identifies the latest research on white matter (WM) brain alterations in anorexia nervosa (AN). The WM architecture has been poorly understood due to its structure forming deep parts of the brain. It transmits information between cortical and subcortical structures. New advances in imaging methods with diffusion tensor imaging, allow its characterization and integrity analysis. Alterations in areas of fornix, cingulum, corpus callosum, cerebellum, superior longitudinal fasciculus and thalamus have been found in AN. They could be related to symptoms like anxiety, body image perception, reward processing and cognitive abilities.Martin Monzon B, Hay P, Foroughi N, Touyz S. White matter alterations in anorexia nervosa: A systematic review of diffusion tensor imaging studies.

Cytoplasmic FMR1-Interacting Protein 2 Is a Major Genetic Factor Underlying Binge Eating

“…Furthermore, loss of white matter integrity correlated with the number of BE episodes(58), indicating a potential link between reduced myelination and increased symptomatic severity. White matter pathology was also observed in in the brains of anorexic patients exhibiting restricted food intake(60, 61). Furthermore, rodents restrict chow intake between intermittent binge episodes of limited access to PF(62-64).…”

Anorexia nervosa and diffusion weighted imaging: An open methodological question raised by a systematic review and a fractional anisotropy anatomical likelihood estimation meta‐analysis

“…Although the evidence shows changes in WM in the AN population, there are no unequivocal results in the literature, and data as for FA modifications in subcortical regions in AN population is still preliminary (Barona et al, ; King et al, ; Monzon et al, ). In fact, from our analysis we hypothesized that we would extend previous studies and find further evidence for reduced FA in AN in structures that are involved in affective and body image processing (Treasure et al, ).…”

“…At the same time, no consideration was made as for the problem of PVE regarding the alteration of FA (Seitz, 2017). The same limitations can also be highlighted also in previous articles, where a strict selection of the clinical population was not carried out, with subsequent mixed results (King et al, 2018;Monzon, Hay, Foroughi, & Touyz, 2016).The anatomic likelihood estimation (ALE) is a robust voxel-based metaanalysis method used to examine the consistency of the results across various neuroimaging studies (Turkeltaub, Eden, Jones, & Zeffiro, 2002). It is based on the convergence of spatial peak coordinates across studies and provides a model based on a quantitative analysis of the reviewed results.…”

Normal white matter microstructure in women long‐term recovered from anorexia nervosa: A diffusion tensor imaging study

“…DTI studies of acutely ill patients with AN have generally shown microstructural WM alterations (Monzon, Hay, Foroughi, & Touyz, 2016), although specific findings are mixed. For adult patients, studies point to decreased FA (Frieling et al, 2012;Hayes et al, 2015;Kazlouski et al, 2011;Nagahara et al, 2014;Via et al, 2014), which in some instances is accompanied by increased MD (Nagahara et al, 2014;Via et al, 2014).…”