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Altered cortical folding and reduced sulcal depth in adults with anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Nickel Kathrin,
Joos Andreas,
Tebartz van Elst Ludger,
Holovics Lukas,
Endres Dominique,
Zeeck Almut,
Maier Simon
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2685
Subject(s) - statistical parametric mapping , anorexia nervosa , white matter , ghrelin , grey matter , medicine , psychology , cardiology , eating disorders , neuroscience , anatomy , hormone , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , psychiatry
Objective Previous studies on anorexia nervosa (AN) focused on cortical volume and mainly reported grey matter reduction. They also investigated cortical surface parameters, for example, absolute mean curvature (AMC) providing information on cortical folding or sulcal depth (SD). For the first time, we also analysed cortical complexity using fractal dimension (FD) in AN. Method In a cross‐sectional study, we performed surface analyses (AMC, SD, and FD) on 34 women with AN, 24 recovered from AN (REC), and 41 healthy controls (HC). Structural MR data was processed using the Computational Anatomy Toolbox and statistically compared across groups on a vertex‐ and region‐of‐interest‐wise level using statistical parametric mapping. Results We found a lower AMC and SD in AN, especially in temporal areas. FD was increased in the left precentral gyrus in AN. No differences of the parameters AMC, SD, or FD were evident between REC and HC participants. Conclusions Alterations in AMC, SD, and FD in AN patients, but not between the REC and HC groups, suggest that these alterations are state related. The findings concur with other structural AN studies that suggest restitution with clinical recovery. The changes may be due to malnutrition, dehydration, osmotic dysregulation, or hormonal aberrations during the acute stage.