Anorexia may be genetic disorder linked to autism
London, Aug. 20 -- Anorexia, an eating disorder, might be caused by a genetic brain disorder which shares its traits with autism and Asperger's syndrome, a new study has found.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Prof Janet Treasure at King's College London.
As part of the study researchers tried to figure out the neural networks in the brain to find how patterns of information are processed and how this affects behaviour, to look at the aspects of brain functions that increase the risk of someone falling prey to an eating disorder.
Researchers found the anorexia patients shared traits with people who suffered from autism.
Autism is a disorder that is usually first diagnosed in early childhood. The main signs and symptoms of autism involve communication, social interactions and repetitive behaviours.
The study noted that people with eating disorders had difficulty in changing self-set rules and learnt behaviour once fixed in the brain. They also saw the world in close-up detail, as if they were looking at life through a zoom lens, but this could be at the cost of having an ability to see and think about self-identity and connections with others without getting lost in the details.
This distorted pattern of processing information has a strong similarity to autistic spectrums. It has even been described as the female form of Asperger's, a milder version of the disorder. Traits that may appear in childhood, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or overperfectionism, can often indicate a vulnerability to developing an eating disorder later in adolescence.
"Examining other family members is very important, especially when there is another young woman in the family. The children of women who themselves have had an eating disorder are particularly interesting, as comparing patterns of the illness across generations can enhance our understanding of environmental as well as genetic factors and how they interact," the Telegraph quoted Prof Treasure, as saying.
Published by HT Media Ltd. with permission from Asian News International.
Does anybody here struggle or know of aspies who struggle with eating disorders? Food is a non-issue for me... it's annoying to have to eat most of the time so that isn't an obsessive sort of control disorder with food... It's just boredom.
I can see how someone might link the two based on observable behavior, but I'm not convinced it's a valid link based on brain function...
I wish they would explain more about how the study was done rather than just putting out their conclusions. I've never known anyone personally who had anorexia, but those I've read about all seemed to be pretty social as you describe your sister. I know a few female aspies - none of whom show signs of anorexia...
Perhaps there are some traits in common between people with a mental predisposition to anorexia (I really can't see how it can be a purely a genetic disorder) and Asperger's, but to say it's 'linked' as they do in this article makes it sound like both are coming from the same 'cause' rather than that they happen to share a few behavioral similarities.
I usually associate people with eating conditions(don't know the english term for it) with really popular girls that gets too much expectations from family and friends, but I don't know much about it.
I think this was discussed in some blog aswell and it was immediatly called stupid.
I think this was discussed in some blog aswell and it was immediatly called stupid.
*LOL* I was trying to give the scientists the benefit of the doubt since I didn't see the full study, but 'stupid' was closer to my first assessment.
It has even been described as the female form of Asperger's, a milder version of the disorder.
Here it is again: Sexism, plain and simple. A mix of "Anorexia only strikes girls" and "Autism is a male-only condition". Anorexia IS NOT "the female form of asperger's", because ASPERGERS is the female form of aspergers!
Does anybody here struggle or know of aspies who struggle with eating disorders?
Yes. I have an eating disorder. It is not anorexia. Were it diagnosed, it would be considered an Atypical Eating Disorder. It's caused by a deadly mixture of Executive Dysfunction (forgetting to eat), sensory issues (gagging at the taste of certain intolerable foods, also being a suberbly picky eater), and anxiety (being stressed out exacerbates my sensory issues, causing me to gag at ANY food at all, or even at the thought of the food, and makes me terrified that if I put food in my mouth I will throw up, so I'm afraid to eat).
This is, sadly, not entirely uncommon in auties. Read this: http://thiswayoflife.org/blog/?p=213
That's a blog entry by Joel Smith (who writes a really excellent blog, I really recommend it) about how surprised he was to discover how many people who joined his new autism mailing list asked for help with what could only be described as eating disorders.
So yes, this is a big issue for autistics. It is not, however, anything to do with anorexia.
One thing that would make me trust that study more would be if it also gave me the numbers on these:
- how many anorexics they studied didn't show anything they could call "autism traits"
- how many diagnosed autistics have diagnosed anorexia
- how many diagnosed anorexics have diagnosed autism
- how many of the anorexics they studied actually showed enough autism traits to be considered for further evaluation
- how many of the anorexics displayed classic traits of extreme anxiety
Luai_lashire, I completely understand what you are describing! I don't have it that bad, but I have always been pretty picky and the gag reflex is really strong.
Come to think of it, I know children who have difficulty eating certain foods and their parents can't do anything to get them to eat... One friend of my son is especially bad and when I consider some of her other personality quirks she could very well be Aspie! It is no wonder that she and my son click so well.
But you are right - it is NOT anorexia and it's extremely disturbing that 'professional scientific researchers' could be so far off...
It has even been described as the female form of Asperger's, a milder version of the disorder.
Here it is again: Sexism, plain and simple. A mix of "Anorexia only strikes girls" and "Autism is a male-only condition". Anorexia IS NOT "the female form of asperger's", because ASPERGERS is the female form of aspergers!
am agree,they are crap researchers,just because some females with aspergers are quieter and have milder traits does not mean all do.
am used to live with another kanners autie who had some sort of anorexia or eating problem,he is severely underweight and is on this milkshake stuff from the doctor which is to try and put more weight back on him,he can only eat corned beef that he has mashed in his food mixer.
This guy was 5' 10'' and weighed 120 lbs. He was aspie and his girlfriend was anorexic. He didn't often eat, skipping meals or refusing some foods (sensory issues) but I wonder if his girlfriend's anorexia influenced him. I know that she never cooked for him or bought groceries but her screaming about gaining 1 lb must have had an impact on his state of mind.
Just pointing out the difference between "anorexia nervosa" and just simple "anorexia". "Anorexia"--the simple lack of appetite or desire to eat--often does affect people on the Spectrum, because of sensory problems with eating. "Anorexia nervosa" is different; it's a psychologically based refusal to eat despite normal (physical) appetite.
Don't think anorexia nervosa has much to do with autism. I guess they can co-occur, the same way autism/OCD can co-occur, because of underlying anxiety and wish to control an uncontrollable environment... But I don't think anorexia nervosa IS the female version of male autism. There's just not enough commonalities.
The link could be through anxiety.
Autism causes higher levels of anxiety. Combine an autistic brain with a world that is made for NT brains, and there is bound to be anxiety.
Eating disorders have a large element of being a coping mechanism for anxiety: Eat to make yourself feel better; or else don't eat to try to gain control over your world and thus your anxiety.
It might be part of a larger picture, better stated as: Autistics are more likely to have stress-based disorders.
The link could be through anxiety.
Autism causes higher levels of anxiety. Combine an autistic brain with a world that is made for NT brains, and there is bound to be anxiety.
Eating disorders have a large element of being a coping mechanism for anxiety: Eat to make yourself feel better; or else don't eat to try to gain control over your world and thus your anxiety.
It might be part of a larger picture, better stated as: Autistics are more likely to have stress-based disorders.
I completely agree with you about the anxiety disorders, but that's not at all what the researchers here are suggesting- in fact they weren't even suggesting a link between anorexia and autism. They were out and out suggesting that anorexia IS autism, or at least one form/presentation of it. That's very different from a comorbid condition.
I don't eat anmy veg either, its a sensory thing, for some reason I can't stand any of it, tomato paste on pizza I like, both more or less nothing else.
Tonight? a donner kebab and a pint of vodka, will do me righteous, none of that filthy, vile vegetable stuff for Lestat, no sir'ee bob, yeech, I eat a lot of fruit, when I can afford to buy any, but no veg, I don't mind mash either on top of that wotsit pie, not shepherds pie, the other one, with beef...whats it called again...can't remember ,but its nice
Yeah, Luai, I don't agree with the original article either. I'm just trying to figure out how they came to such an odd conclusion, and comorbidity could explain it.
Anorexia--onset at age 10-15. Autism--onset prenatal to age 2. How do they explain that one?
Cottage pie, thats the one, even though I despise potato in any form other than: crisped, chipped, cottage pie or fermented and distilled, its one of my favourites.
In fact, I'm off to the freezer, thence on to the microwave, all this talk of cottage pie has given me the munchies.
Heh zyggy, I'm inclined to agree, the only reason I've been at the vodka again is that its cheap, personally I think it tastes like paint stripper (not that I've ever drank any), and the smell knocks me sick, but in the abscence of better booze, or opiates, then it will have to do
Tequila is great stuff, but damn, nothing quite like it for hangovers (causing, that is, not remedying)