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 Researchers found that in extreme cases of the eating disorder, the
technique - known as deep brain stimulation (DBS) - swiftly helped
many of those studied reduce symptoms of either anxiety or
depression, and improved their quality of life.
A few months later, the improved psychological symptoms began to
lead to changes in weight, the researchers said, with the average
body mass index (BMI) of the group increasing to 17.3 – a rise of
3.5 points – over the course of the study.
Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that affects around 0.5
percent of people worldwide, the majority of them teenage girls.
Patients have persistent concerns about their weight, shape and
size, and starve themselves to maintain a low weight.
Chronic anorexia can be fatal, and in many cases causes severe
health problems including weak bones and muscles, sexual problems,
infertility, heart problems and seizures.
The scientists who led this study, published in The Lancet
Psychiatry journal on Friday, said their results suggest deep brain
stimulation - which involves implanting electrodes to stimulate
brain areas that control dysfunctional behaviors - might alter the
brain circuits that drive anorexia.
DBS is already used to target brain circuits involved in Parkinson's
disease and tremors - and been shown to be very effective in
reducing symptoms.
In this trial, 16 women aged between 21 and 57 who had had anorexia
for an average of 18 years and were severely underweight - with an
average body mass index of 13.8 - were selected. They were chosen
because all other treatments had not worked and their lives were at
risk from the disorder. A healthy range for BMI is 18.5 to 24.9.
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Comparing brain scans from before and after the treatment, the
researchers found there were changes in regions linked to anorexia,
suggesting the DBS was able to directly affect the related brain
circuits. This included less activity in the putamen, thalamus,
cerebellum amongst other areas, the scientists said, and more
activity in the peripheral cortical areas which are also linked to
social perception and behavior.
Andres Lozano, a professor at Canada's University of Toronto who led
the study, said that while the results showed some early promise,
more research would be needed.
"Anorexia remains the psychiatric disorder with the highest
mortality rate, and there is an urgent need to develop safe,
effective, evidence-driven treatments that are informed by a growing
understanding of brain circuitry," he said.
(Editing by Alison Williams)
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