J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2010 Dec;14(2):104-110.

Voxel-Based Morphometry Study of Neurodegenerative Disease with Abnormal Eating Behaviors

• Kim H
• Lee KJ
• Miller BL

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The abnormal eating behaviors are revealed in neurodegenerative disease, especially frontotemporal dementia. Several studies have demonstrated that structural changes are related to functional changes in regulation of feeding. But areas in determining eating disorder in dementia remain unclear. We applied voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess brain tissue abnormalities in neurodegenerative patients with abnormal eating behaviors.
METHODS
We assessed abnormal eating behaviors of sixty three patients with dementia using the modified Manchester Behavior Questionnaire. Volumetric brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all patients and gray matter changes were assessed using VBM.
RESULTS
Dementia patients with eating problems showed gray matter loss predominantly involving right insula, right anterior cingulate, right superior medial frontal cortex, right orbitofrontal cortex. Overeats scores were associated with atrophy of right anterior cingulate, right superior orbitofrontal cortex, right superior medial frontal cortex, right insula, and right putamen.
CONCLUSION
This results suggest that right orbitofrontal cortex, insula, anterior cingulate, striatum regions integrate sensory and motivational information regarding food. The dementia patients with abnormal eating behaviors may be explained by disruption of this integrating system.

Keyword

Dementia; Eating disorder; Voxel-based morphometry (VBM)