Premium
Brain white matter microstructure in obese women with binge eating disorder
Author(s) -
Estella Nara Mendes,
Sanches Liana Guerra,
Maranhão Mara Fernandes,
Hoexter Marcelo Queiroz,
Schmidt Ulrike,
Campbell Iain C.,
Amaro Edson,
Claudino Angélica Medeiros
Publication year - 2020
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.2758
Subject(s) - fractional anisotropy , white matter , superior longitudinal fasciculus , psychology , corpus callosum , diffusion mri , eating disorders , uncinate fasciculus , medial frontal gyrus , anterior cingulate cortex , cingulum (brain) , body mass index , audiology , neuroscience , medicine , psychiatry , magnetic resonance imaging , functional magnetic resonance imaging , cognition , radiology
Objective Research on potential brain circuit abnormalities in binge eating disorder (BED) is limited. Here, we assess white matter (WM) microstructure in obese women with BED. Method Diffusion tensor imaging data were acquired, and tract‐based spatial statistics used to examine WM in women with BED who were obese ( n = 17) compared to normal‐weight (NWC) ( n = 17) and to women who were obese (OBC) ( n = 13). Body mass index (BMI) was a covariate in the analyses. Results The BED group (vs. NWC) had greater axial diffusion (AD) in the forceps minor, anterior thalamic radiation, superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculus, that is, in pathways connecting fronto‐limbic regions. Microstructures differences in AD between the BED and OBC groups were seen in fronto‐limbic pathways extending to temporoparietal pathways. The BED (vs. OBC) group had greater fractional anisotropy in the forceps minor and greater AD in the superior longitudinal fasciculus, cingulate gyrus, and corpus callosum, consistent with fronto‐tempoparietal pathways. Conclusion Women with BED show WM alterations in AD in fronto‐limbic and parietal pathways that are important in decision‐making processes. As BMI was a covariate in the analyses, alterations in BED may be part of the pathology, but whether they are a cause or effect of illness is unclear.