Examining the Relationship Between Autistic Spectrum Disorder Characteristics and Structural Brain Differences Seen in Anorexia Nervosa

Overview

Journal Eur Eat Disord Rev

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2022 May 16

PMID 35570362

Authors

Daniel Halls

Jenni Leppanen

Jess Kerr-Gaffney

Mima Simic

Dasha Nicholls

William Mandy

Steven Williams

Kate Tchanturia

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cortical differences have been reported in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) compared with healthy controls (HC); however, it is unclear if Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) characteristics are related to these cortical differences. The aim of this study was to examine if structural measures were correlated to ASD traits in AN. In total 184 female participants participated in the study; 57 acutely underweight AN participants (AAN), 59 weight-restored participants (WR) and 68 HC. Participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging as well as completing the Autism Diagnostic Observation schedule, second edition to examine ASD characteristics. Group differences in curvature, gyrification, surface area, thickness, global grey matter and white matter were measured. Correlation and regression analysis were conducted to examine the relationship between cortical measures and ASD characteristics. Two decreased gyrification clusters in the right post central and supramarginal gyrus and decreased global grey matter were observed in the AAN group compared to HC and WR. No correlations between ASD traits and structural measures existed. Our results suggest structural differences seen in individuals with AN do not appear to be related to ASD characteristics.

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Examining the relationship between autistic spectrum disorder characteristics and structural brain differences seen in anorexia nervosa.

Halls D, Leppanen J, Kerr-Gaffney J, Simic M, Nicholls D, Mandy W Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2022; 30(5):459-473.

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