Could this mean a cure for anorexia? Scientists claim they have discovered the gene responsible for eating disorders

Scientists claim they have located the gene responsible for anorexia.

The discovery, led by Dr Michael Lutterat at the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine, could be the breakthrough needed for the development of new treatments.

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Scientists believe that 50 to 70 per cent of the risk of developing an eating disorder is genetic, and that the western obsession with thinness still has a significant part to play in the condition.

According to the new research, which was published in the Cell Report, a specific genetic mutation has been found to cause several behavioural abnormalities in mice which are similar to those seen in people with anorexia nervosa.

Neuroscientist Dr Michael Lutterat said: 'It’s been known for a long time that about 50 per cent to 70 per cent of the risk of getting an eating disorder was inherited, but the identity of the genes that mediate this risk is unknown.'

In earlier studies, the research team sequenced the genomes of two large families with multiple members affected by eating disorders.

They found members with eating disorders often had rare mutations in the oestrogen-related receptor alpha gene (ESRRA) or another gene that influences ESRRA.

Both mutations decreased the activity of the protein expressed by ESRRA.

Although the protein is known to be expressed in the brain, relatively little is known about its function in neurons.

Following experiments on mice, the team has now been able to show that levels of ESRRA protein in the brain are regulated by energy reserves.

Mice genetically bred with lower levels of the protein showed obsessive compulsive-like behaviours and social impairments.

They also showed a decreased willingness to work for high-fat food when hungry.

Dr Lutter said: 'This work identifies oestrogen-related receptor alpha as one of the genes that is likely to contribute to the risk of getting anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

'Clearly social factors - particularly the western ideal of thinness - contribute to the remaining non-genetic risk.

'We know that the rate of eating disorders has been increasing over the past several decades and this is likely due to social factors, not genetics.'

The research team is planning to examine the mechanisms involved in oestrogen-related receptor alpha’s effects on the brain and to test whether novel treatments can reverse the behavioural problems seen in their mouse model.