Research progress of brain white matter alteration in anorexia nervosa by magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by low body mass and body image disturbance. The pathogenesis of AN is complex, which may be related to alterations in brain structures. In recent years, with the development of brain imaging technology, it is possible to explore the relationship between brain structure and clinical symptoms in patients with AN through magnetic resonance imaging. This paper reviewed the studies on the diffusion tensor imaging of AN in recent years, and introduced the alterations of white matter in the brain of AN patients and indi-viduals recovered from AN. It was found that AN patients had structural damage of white matter in the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebellum and other brain areas, and the individuals rehabilitated from AN had white matter alterations in insula and other brain areas. But there exists an inconsistency among the research results. Well-controlled studies with large sample size are needed in the future to provide theoretical foundation and instruction for the pathophysiological mechanism and clinical intervention of AN.