Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have made an exciting discovery: the connections in certain brain circuits related to memory and appetite can affect a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI).
This is especially true for people with eating disorders that lead to obesity, like binge eating disorder.
What’s Wrong with the Wiring?
In plain language, think of the brain like an electrical circuit board, where wires connect different areas that control various functions.
For instance, there’s a spot in the brain called the dorsolateral hippocampus (dlHPC), which helps us remember things. Another area, called the lateral hypothalamus (LH), helps to keep our body in balance.
The research found that in people who are obese, the “wiring” between these two areas is faulty.
This can mess up their ability to control emotional reactions, especially when it comes to eating rewarding meals or treats. In other words, some people’s brains are wired in a way that makes them more prone to obesity.
A Discovery Made by Chance
Interestingly, this discovery happened because the researchers were able to study people who were already in a hospital unit for epilepsy.
By monitoring their brain activity while they were expecting a tasty treat, like a chocolate milkshake, they found a strong connection between the memory and appetite-regulating areas of the brain. But in individuals with obesity, the stronger their BMI, the weaker this connection was.
To be extra sure of this connection, they used a technique called “brain clearing” to look at brain tissue.
This confirmed that a hormone related to feeding behavior was present in both the dlHPC and LH areas, strengthening their conclusion that these areas are closely linked.
The Road Ahead: Treatment and Prevention
What does this mean for people who are struggling with obesity or eating disorders? Well, the study’s lead author, Casey Halpern, believes that this could pave the way for new types of treatments.
He emphasizes that issues like obesity are not just about lacking willpower or not eating healthily. Instead, fixing the “faulty wiring” in the brain could be a crucial step.
This new information could be used to identify people who are at higher risk of developing obesity and to create therapies that could help fix these problematic brain circuits.
Halpern points out that, so far, no one has tried targeting these specific brain areas to treat obesity or related eating disorders. This could be a game-changer.
The research provides fresh hope and a new direction in the battle against obesity and eating disorders. Understanding the brain’s role could lead to more effective and compassionate treatments.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about a key to activating ‘fountain of youth’ in brain, and how COVID-19 triggers immune response in brain.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
The study was published in Nature.
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