Binge eating may map onto widespread brain differences in bulimia nervosa
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that individuals with bulimia nervosa have structural differences in brain regions involved in reward and motivation, as well as social and sensory processing, and that more frequent binge eating is associated with more widespread differences in brain structure, according to research published today in JAMA Psychiatry.
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered brain differences in individuals with bulimia nervosa. Published in JAMA Psychiatry, the study found that those with bulimia nervosa have structural variations in brain regions linked to reward, motivation, and social processing. The research, involving 369 female participants with bulimia nervosa and 417 without an eating disorder across 17 international cohorts, suggests that more frequent binge eating is linked to broader differences in brain structure, particularly in regions related to cognitive control, reward estimation, bodily awareness, and emotional regulation.
Conversely, the frequency of compensatory behaviors, used to define the severity of bulimia nervosa, did not correlate with brain structure. Dr. Laura A. Berner, the study's lead author, expressed surprise at the findings, noting that the identified brain differences in the outer layer, established early in development, suggest potential markers of vulnerability.
The study provides the clearest evidence to date linking bulimia nervosa to reproducible brain structural differences, while also emphasizing that the brain's function is not predetermined and that further research is needed to understand the implications for prevention and treatment.
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