Eating Disorders · Texas behavioral health news
Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies - New Scientist
Eating Disorders (Google News) · June 8, 2026
In plain language
Researchers are finding that anorexia nervosa is linked to specific changes in brain circuits that control habits, rewards, and how we perceive our own bodies. Studies show that for people with this condition, the brain's outer layer is thinner and the pathways that make decisions can become automatic, making it very difficult to stop restrictive eating. This new focus on brain science explains why willpower alone is often not enough for recovery and is helping experts develop more effective treatments.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Anorexia causes physical thinning of the cerebral cortex, though this damage may be reversible with weight restoration.
- Restrictive eating can shift from a choice to an automatic habit controlled by the brain's dorsal striatum.
- Brain scans suggest that individuals with anorexia may process high-calorie foods through threat-detection centers like the amygdala.
- The condition shares neural mechanisms and symptoms with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Starvation itself causes psychological changes like obsession and anxiety, regardless of a person's original mental health status.
- New therapies like brain stimulation and experimental medications are being developed based on these neurological discoveries.
Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies New Scientist
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