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Neurocognitive findings in young adults with binge eating disorder

Neurocognitive findings in young adults with binge eating disorder
Neurocognitive findings in young adults with binge eating disorder

Objectives: Binge-eating disorder (BED) has been associated with cognitive impairment, including on measures of impulsivity, but it is not clear in prior literature whether these deficits may have been associated with obesity, rather than BED per se. Impulsivity may play a role in predisposing people towards BED as well as in the chronicity of symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine cognitive functions between BED and healthy controls matched for age, gender, and body mass indices. 

Methods: Individuals with BED and healthy controls were recruited from the general community using media advertisements. After providing informed consent, study participants completed a clinical interview and computerised neuropsychological testing. Group differences were analysed. 

Results: Groups did not differ significantly on age, gender, education levels, or body mass indices. The BED group (N = 17) exhibited significantly impaired stop-signal response inhibition (Stop-Signal Task) and executive planning (Stockings of Cambridge Task) compared to healthy controls (N = 17). Spatial working memory and set-shifting were intact. 

Discussion: BED appears to be associated with motor disinhibition and impaired executive planning even controlling for obesity. Longitudinal work is needed to clarify whether motor impulsivity predisposes people to BED, and/or contributes to persistence of symptoms over time. Key points Binge-eating disorder is common, under-recognised, and associated with untoward physical and health sequelae. The neurobiological basis of binge-eating disorder is unclear; cognitive testing may offer insights. Many prior cognitive studies have not controlled for potential confounds, especially group differences in body mass indices (BMI). Obesity in itself has been linked with cognitive dysfunction. Here, we compared cognition between people with binge-eating disorder and controls, matched for BMI and other measures. Binge-eating disorder was associated with impaired response inhibition and executive planning. These results inform neurobiological models of binge-eating disorder and may suggest new treatment targets for this condition.

addiction, binge, compulsivity, food, Impulsivity
1365-1501
71-76
Grant, Jon E.
07372bd5-8a0d-42b4-b41b-e376c652acf3
Chamberlain, Samuel R.
8a0e09e6-f51f-4039-9287-88debe8d8b6f
Grant, Jon E.
07372bd5-8a0d-42b4-b41b-e376c652acf3
Chamberlain, Samuel R.
8a0e09e6-f51f-4039-9287-88debe8d8b6f

Grant, Jon E. and Chamberlain, Samuel R. (2020) Neurocognitive findings in young adults with binge eating disorder. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 24 (1), 71-76. (doi:10.1080/13651501.2019.1687724).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objectives: Binge-eating disorder (BED) has been associated with cognitive impairment, including on measures of impulsivity, but it is not clear in prior literature whether these deficits may have been associated with obesity, rather than BED per se. Impulsivity may play a role in predisposing people towards BED as well as in the chronicity of symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine cognitive functions between BED and healthy controls matched for age, gender, and body mass indices. 

Methods: Individuals with BED and healthy controls were recruited from the general community using media advertisements. After providing informed consent, study participants completed a clinical interview and computerised neuropsychological testing. Group differences were analysed. 

Results: Groups did not differ significantly on age, gender, education levels, or body mass indices. The BED group (N = 17) exhibited significantly impaired stop-signal response inhibition (Stop-Signal Task) and executive planning (Stockings of Cambridge Task) compared to healthy controls (N = 17). Spatial working memory and set-shifting were intact. 

Discussion: BED appears to be associated with motor disinhibition and impaired executive planning even controlling for obesity. Longitudinal work is needed to clarify whether motor impulsivity predisposes people to BED, and/or contributes to persistence of symptoms over time. Key points Binge-eating disorder is common, under-recognised, and associated with untoward physical and health sequelae. The neurobiological basis of binge-eating disorder is unclear; cognitive testing may offer insights. Many prior cognitive studies have not controlled for potential confounds, especially group differences in body mass indices (BMI). Obesity in itself has been linked with cognitive dysfunction. Here, we compared cognition between people with binge-eating disorder and controls, matched for BMI and other measures. Binge-eating disorder was associated with impaired response inhibition and executive planning. These results inform neurobiological models of binge-eating disorder and may suggest new treatment targets for this condition.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 25 October 2019
Published date: 2 January 2020
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords: addiction, binge, compulsivity, food, Impulsivity

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 492800
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/492800
ISSN: 1365-1501
PURE UUID: 9da5dbf6-1a09-4a8d-b9dc-74571e0f6362
ORCID for Samuel R. Chamberlain: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7014-8121

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Date deposited: 14 Aug 2024 16:45
Last modified: 15 Aug 2024 02:14

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Contributors

Author: Jon E. Grant
Author: Samuel R. Chamberlain ORCID iD

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