Early Life Trauma Associated With Binge-Eating

Date: 13 December 2022 - 21:39

News ID: ۱۱۰۱۳۱

WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -- Researchers have recently revealed how early life trauma may change the brain to increase the risk of binge eating later in life.
The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech ( VTC) research team found that in mice that experienced early life stress and exhibited behavior similar to binge-eating, leptin is less effective in a part of the brain called the lateral hypothalamus, where many behaviors are regulated. Without these signals from the brain, the overeating continues.
They also identified neurons in another part of the brain called the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray that respond to the message from leptin and lateral hypothalamus, thereby regulating binge eating.
These scientists Believe that although there is much more research to do, but by knowing the specific molecule and receptors in the brain to target, they can now provide insight and the foundation for developing therapeutic strategies for the disorder.