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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Examining the relationship between autistic spectrum disorder characteristics and structural brain differences seen in anorexia nervosa

AU - Halls, Daniel

AU - Leppanen, Jenni

AU - Kerr-Gaffney, Jess

AU - Simic, Mima

AU - Nicholls, Dasha

AU - Mandy, William

AU - Williams, Steven

AU - Tchanturia, Kate

N1 - Funding Information: KT would like to acknowledge: MRC-MRF Fund (MR/S020381/1; BiomaRkers for AnorexIa NErvosa and autism spectrum Disorders-longitudinal study And MR/R004595/1 The Triple A study (Adolescents with Anorexia and Autism): A search for biomarkers). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. European Eating Disorders Review published by Eating Disorders Association and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132609068&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/erv.2910

DO - 10.1002/erv.2910

M3 - Article

C2 - 35570362

SN - 1072-4133

VL - 30

SP - 459

EP - 473

JO - European Eating Disorders Review

JF - European Eating Disorders Review

IS - 5

ER -