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Serotonin: imaging findings in eating disorders.
Ursula F Bailer1, Walter H Kaye
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Biological Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
|January 19, 2011
Summary
Serotonin (5-HT) pathway disruptions are implicated in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Brain imaging reveals persistent alterations in 5-HT receptors and transporters, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) involve abnormal eating behaviors and body image perception.
- Serotonin (5-HT) pathways are increasingly recognized for their role in the pathophysiology of these eating disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmitter function in AN and BN using advanced brain imaging techniques.
- To explore the relationship between 5-HT system alterations and behavioral disturbances in eating disorders.
Main Methods:
- Utilized positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 5-HT-specific radioligands.
- Examined alterations in 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptors and 5-HT transporters in cortical and limbic structures.
Main Results:
- Consistent alterations in 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptors and 5-HT transporters were observed in individuals with AN and BN.
- These neurobiological disturbances were found in both ill subjects and those in recovery, indicating potential trait markers.
- Observed alterations may correlate with anxiety, behavioral inhibition, and body image distortions.
Conclusions:
- Brain imaging studies highlight significant serotonin pathway dysregulation in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
- Persistent 5-HT system alterations suggest a potential neurobiological basis for eating disorders, independent of illness state.
- Understanding these neurobiological underpinnings is crucial for developing novel and effective treatments for AN and BN.
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