School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, Australia.
Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2011 May;24(3):251-6. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e3283453775.
Imaging studies that demonstrate loss of brain substance help explain why people with anorexia nervosa have cognitive deficits and may help to elucidate the cognitive style found in many patients. It is not known whether a neurobiological vulnerability predisposes to anorexia nervosa or if this is associated with maintenance of symptoms once the illness develops.
Evidence emerging from functional neuro-imaging studies raise the possibility of a biological abnormality that may predispose to anorexia nervosa. Studies have found abnormal functioning in the frontal, limbic, occipital, striatal and cerebellar regions that may persist after recovery. However, most recent cross-sectional and prospective studies indicate improved cerebral activity and mixed findings in regards to neurocognitve function with recovery from anorexia nervosa.
The elucidation of the neurobiology of anorexia nervosa has benefited from recent advances in neuro-imaging and cognitive neuroscience. Further research is needed to examine the degree to which abnormalities are a consequence of starvation or are caused by a putative anorexia nervosa endophenotype.
影像学研究表明，脑物质的丧失有助于解释为什么厌食症患者存在认知缺陷，并可能有助于阐明许多患者的认知模式。目前尚不清楚神经生物学的脆弱性是否会导致厌食症，或者这种脆弱性是否与疾病发展后症状的维持有关。
来自功能神经影像学研究的证据提出了一种生物学异常的可能性，这种异常可能会导致厌食症。研究发现，在前额、边缘、枕叶、纹状体和小脑区域的功能异常可能在恢复后仍然存在。然而，最近的横断面和前瞻性研究表明，随着厌食症的恢复，大脑活动有所改善，神经认知功能存在混合结果。
厌食症的神经生物学研究受益于神经影像学和认知神经科学的最新进展。需要进一步的研究来检查异常是饥饿的结果还是由所谓的厌食症表型引起的。
