Beta-Amyloid Plasma Levels in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa of the Restrictive Type

Background: Reduced plasma leptin and elevated homocysteine (Hcy) are known to lead to increased beta-amyloid (A beta) production, besides being hallmarks of anorexia nervosa (AN) of the restrictive type. AN subjects display several neuropsychiatric manifestations, which may entail A beta-mediated altered synaptic functions. The aim of this study consisted in assessing A beta plasma levels in AN patients. Methods: A total of 24 adolescent female AN outpatients were recruited together with 12 age-comparable healthy controls. For each subject we assessed A beta 40 and leptin plasma levels, as well as APOE genotype. Hcy plasma levels were also determined in AN patients who underwent clinical characterization, including the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the estimation of the speed of BMI loss (DPI, disease progression index). Results: Plasma A beta 40 levels were similar between patients and controls, while a marked reduction was observed for leptin (similar to 80%) in AN patients. A beta 40 plasma levels failed to correlate with leptin, while a linear correlation was present with Hcy (r = 0.50, p < 0.03). Examined clinical features were not related with A beta 40 plasma levels, with the only exception of the DPI (r = 0.47, p < 0.03). Conclusion: This exploratory study does not support a significant role for altered A beta production in AN-associated dysfunctions. Further studies are required to clarify whether exceptions to this conclusion can be drawn for those patients expressing significantly elevated Hcy plasma levels or for those progressing more rapidly. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel