Autistic individuals are at greater risk of developing anorexia, more likely to require in-patient treatment and respond less effectively to treatment for the eating disorder*.
A new study using brain scanning technology aims to provide fresh insights into the significant overlap between anorexia nervosa (AN) and autism and to explore these differing outcomes.
Researchers from the University of Aberdeen are seeking volunteers from the autistic community to undergo a brain scan with the aim of better understanding the relationship between brain structure, eating disorder symptoms and autistic masking behaviour.
Autistic masking is a behaviour exhibited by autistic individuals, where specific behaviours are consciously or unconsciously concealed to fit into neurotypical or non-autistic social norms or to avoid negative responses from others. However, masking, particularly as a long-term strategy, can produce negative effects on autistic people’s mental health and well-being.
Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness and potential harms of traditional eating disorder treatments for the autistic community, leading to calls to develop new autistic-affirming approaches to eating disorder treatments.
Autistic individuals who have a current or past diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, or those who have no history of an eating disorder, are needed for the pioneering study which hopes to provide insights which can be used to better tailor future treatments.
The study is being carried out and supervised by Dr Michelle Sader who is postdoctoral research fellow for the Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative (EDAC) at the University of Aberdeen. EDAC is a UK-wide collaborative network seeking to bridge the gap between autism and eating disorders research through a lived experience lens.
She said: “In our previous work, autistic collaborators highlighted the importance of investigating how masking behaviour relates to eating disorder development or maintenance in autistic people.
“Taking part in this research would not only help us understand what regions of the brain may be associated with autistic masking, but also whether masking is differently associated with, or plays a different role in autistic individuals with an eating disorder.
“Findings from this study could assist EDAC in providing evidence for more nuanced, tailored and personalised approaches to eating disorder interventions to support the autistic community."
Autistic adults aged between 25 and 45 are needed for the study to participate in a brain scan conducted in Aberdeen and questionnaire-based assessment.
Dr Sader added: “Around 27% of autistic people display symptoms of eating disorders, and individuals with more autistic characteristics tend to experience more severe eating disorder symptoms.
“There is a significant overlap between autism and eating disorders which is not yet fully understood, and we need to change that.
“By taking part, volunteers will be helping shape a future with more appropriate and effective support for autistic individuals.”
Anyone interested in taking part should visit complete the study pre-recruitment screener via the following link: https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eFGkS5I3odobt0a. Individuals can contact the research team at EDAC@ed.ac.uk or view the study notice on the EDAC website for further information.