Anorexia nervosa, or Ana, is often referred to as a psychological disorder, but what if there’s a biological marker in the brain that could predict the disorder or help with recovery? Maybe that’s so.
Levels of a brain protein called BDNF are lower in anorexic women, report researchers from Chiba University in Japan. The study was recommended by Cynthia Bulik, Faculty Member for F1000 Medicine and eating disorders professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The researchers discovered that anorexic women had lower levels of BDNF in their blood than healthy women or those who had recovered from anorexia, suggesting …read more