2025/01/01 by Marie‐Louis Wronski, Franziska Gronow, John Schlömer +9 · 1 voice
Medicine · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Diet and metabolism studies #Eating Disorders and Behaviors #Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
paper · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111248
openalex publication_date 2025/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
The thalamus is a complex subcortical brain structure that plays a role in various cognitive functions. Few studies have focused on thalamic nuclei-specific alterations and potential neurohormonal involvement in eating disorders including anorexia nervosa (AN). We employed a FreeSurfer segmentation tool to compare thalamic nuclei volumes cross-sectionally between females with AN ( n = 131, 12–29 years) and age-matched healthy females (HC, n = 131). Potential associations with BMI, leptin, and psychiatric symptoms were analyzed via robust linear regression. Most thalamic nuclei volumes were reduced in both hemispheres in AN versus HC. The spread of alterations ranged between −39.7 % and + 3.8 % (average − 9.8 %, η p 2 = 0.16). Left laterodorsal and pulvinar inferior nuclei showed positive associations with leptin in AN. Leptin mediated the effect of BMI on both thalamic nuclei volumes. In AN, thalamic nuclei are altered to different degrees with laterodorsal nuclei emerging as substantially reduced. Leptin seems to be mechanistically involved in the reduction of some thalamic nuclei, further supporting the investigation of experimental leptin treatment for AN. Effect sizes observed for thalamic nuclei reductions in AN exceed other brain structures as well as other psychiatric disorders, which demonstrates the importance of the thalamus as a target structure in research on AN. • Most thalamic nuclei volumes were reduced in female patients with anorexia nervosa. • Nuclei were differentially altered (eg, laterodorsal nuclei substantially reduced). • Left laterodorsal and pulvinar inferior nuclei correlated positively with leptin. • Leptin mediated the effect of body mass index on reduced volume of both nuclei. • Findings support the further exploration of leptin treatment for anorexia nervosa.