By Stephen Beech via SWNS
Early risers are more likely to develop anorexia, according to a new study.
Researchers have discovered a genetic link between the potentially deadly eating disorder and early waking.
People with anorexia nervosa often wake up early and experience insomnia, say doctors.
The new study indicates that anorexia nervosa is associated with being an early riser, unlike several other disorders that tend to be evening-based – including depression, binge eating disorder and schizophrenia.
The research, led by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the U.S. working with University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay, also revealed a link between anorexia and insomnia risk.
Previous studies have suggested a possible connection between eating disorders and the body’s internal, or circadian clock, which controls a wide range of biological functions such as sleep and affects nearly every organ in the body.
The new research aimed to further understand the relationship by assessing genes associated with anorexia, the circadian clock and several sleep traits including insomnia.
The research team used a statistical method to see how genes that are associated with a certain trait affect other traits.
For example, examining the sleep patterns of people with genetic differences that makes them more likely to have anorexia, providing evidence on the relationship between anorexia nervosa and sleep.
It showed a two-way association between genes associated with anorexia and genes associated with morning “chronotype” – waking early and going to bed early.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, suggest that being an early riser could increase the risk for having anorexia nervosa, and having anorexia nervosa could lead to an earlier wake time.
The team also found an association between anorexia and insomnia.
When they further assessed the insomnia connection by developing a “genetic risk score” for anorexia, the researchers found that the genetic risk score was associated with higher insomnia risk.
Senior author Dr. Hassan Dashti said: “Our findings implicate anorexia nervosa as a morning disorder in contrast to most other evening-based psychiatric diseases and support the association between anorexia nervosa and insomnia as seen in earlier studies.”
The research team said treatments for anorexia are limited and current treatments have relapse rates of up to 52 percent. In addition, the cause of the disease is still unclear.
With anorexia the second highest mortality rate of psychiatric diseases, they say more research is needed.
Study lead author Hannah Wilcox, a researcher at MGH, added: “The clinical implications of our new findings are currently unclear.
“However, our results could direct future investigations into circadian-based therapies for anorexia nervosa prevention and treatment.”
