TY - JOUR
T1 - Reduced Plasma Orexin-A Concentrations are Associated with Cognitive Deficits in Anorexia Nervosa
AU - Steward, Trevor
AU - Mestre-Bach, Gemma
AU - Granero, Roser
AU - Sánchez, Isabel
AU - Riesco, Nadine
AU - Vintró-Alcaraz, Cristina
AU - Sauchelli, Sarah
AU - Jiménez-Murcia, Susana
AU - Agüera, Zaida
AU - Fernández-García, Jose C.
AU - Garrido-Sánchez, Lourdes
AU - Tinahones, Francisco J.
AU - Casanueva, Felipe F.
AU - Baños, Rosa M.
AU - Botella, Cristina
AU - Crujeiras, Ana B.
AU - Torre, Rafael de la
AU - Fernández-Real, Jose M.
AU - Frühbeck, Gema
AU - Ortega, Francisco J.
AU - Rodríguez, Amaia
AU - Menchón, José M.
AU - Fernández-Aranda, Fernando
PY - 2019/12/1
Y1 - 2019/12/1
N2 - © 2019, The Author(s). Orexins/hypocretins are neuropeptides implicated in numerous processes, including food intake and cognition. The role of these peptides in the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa (AN) remains poorly understood. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the associations between plasma orexin-A (OXA) concentrations and neuropsychological functioning in adult women with AN, and a matched control group. Fasting plasma OXA concentrations were taken in 51 females with AN and in 51 matched healthy controls. Set-shifting was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), whereas decision making was measured using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The AN group exhibited lower plasma OXA levels than the HC group. Lower mean scores were obtained on the IGT in AN patients. WCST perseverative errors were significantly higher in the AN group compared to HC. In both the AN and HC group, OXA levels were negatively correlated with WCST non-perseverative errors. Reduced plasma OXA concentrations were found to be associated with set-shifting impairments in AN. Taking into consideration the function of orexins in promoting arousal and cognitive flexibility, future studies should explore whether orexin partly underpins the cognitive impairments found in AN.
AB - © 2019, The Author(s). Orexins/hypocretins are neuropeptides implicated in numerous processes, including food intake and cognition. The role of these peptides in the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa (AN) remains poorly understood. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the associations between plasma orexin-A (OXA) concentrations and neuropsychological functioning in adult women with AN, and a matched control group. Fasting plasma OXA concentrations were taken in 51 females with AN and in 51 matched healthy controls. Set-shifting was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), whereas decision making was measured using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The AN group exhibited lower plasma OXA levels than the HC group. Lower mean scores were obtained on the IGT in AN patients. WCST perseverative errors were significantly higher in the AN group compared to HC. In both the AN and HC group, OXA levels were negatively correlated with WCST non-perseverative errors. Reduced plasma OXA concentrations were found to be associated with set-shifting impairments in AN. Taking into consideration the function of orexins in promoting arousal and cognitive flexibility, future studies should explore whether orexin partly underpins the cognitive impairments found in AN.
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44450-6
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44450-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 31133733
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 9
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
M1 - 7910
ER -