Grant: Project Grant

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) deeply affects the physical and psychological well-being of its sufferers. Mostly, AN manifests in adolescence and recent studies show the prevalence rates are increasing in this group. With among the highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder, the longer someone takes to seek help, the more challenging it is to recover from AN. Although adolescence is a phase characterized by important changes in the brain, little is known about the core brain changes associated with AN, making it difficult to effectively treat the disorder. The proposed study is a large-scale investigation on the differences in brain structure and brain activity between teenagers with AN and healthy controls. We also study the connections between the different brain regions and brain chemistry. The study will also provide data on the efficacy of refeeding for reversing brain changes associated with AN, and we explore how clinical features-such as duration of illness and early-life experiences-are associated with brain function and structure in individuals with AN. Lastly, we will explore whether differences in brain processes of individuals with AN predict individual differences in clinical outcome, one year after an initial MRI scan. A total of 410 participants (205 patients diagnosed with AN and 205 healthy controls) will each undergo an MRI scan and complete questionnaires. We will continue to follow these individuals on weight, height and behaviour at 3, 6, and 12 months after the MRI scan. After 12 months, patients and healthy controls are also expected to return for new MRI tests. Nine clinical sites across Canada are collaborating in this undertaking; an initiative that could lead to a better understanding of the causes of AN. Ultimately, these efforts will guide prevention initiatives for at-risk individuals and improve recovery strategies, so that the eating disorders community in Canada as a whole can benefit from this project.