Nature Medicine: Deep Brain Stimulation Holds Promise Against Binge Eating Disorder

A small device that detects activity in a key area of ​​the brain associated with food cravings responds by electrically stimulating the area in two patients with binge eating disorder (BED), according to researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

The trial, described in a paper published in Nature Medicine, followed two patients for six months, during which an implanted device -- often used to treat drug-resistant epilepsy -- was implanted.

"This is an early feasibility study where we are primarily evaluating safety, but certainly the strong clinical benefit these patients are reporting to us is impressive and exciting," said Kay, senior author of the study.

BED is considered the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting at least millions of people

The onset of bed sickness is preceded by cravings for specific cravings

The device the team used to record signals and stimulate the brains of mice is already on the market and approved to treat drug-resistant epilepsy

The new study is an initial test of the same device and strategy in human subjects

In the next phase of the study, the brain stimulation device automatically sent high-frequency electrical stimulation to the nucleus accumbens when low-frequency craving-related signals were present

"This is a beautiful demonstration of how translational science works at its best," said study co-lead author Camarin Rolle, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in Halpern's team

The scientists continued to follow the study subjects for six months and began recruiting new patients for a larger study

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (5UH3NS103446-02)

article title

Pilot study of responsive nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation for loss-of-control eating