Neurocognitive functions and social functioning in young females with recent-onset anorexia nervosa and recovered individuals

Bentz, Mette; Jepsen, Jens Richardt M.; Telléus, Gry Kjærsdam; Moslet, Ulla; Pedersen, Tine; Bulik, Cynthia M.; Plessen, Kerstin Jessica · 2017 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1186/s40337-017-0137-3

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Summary

This study investigated whether neurocognitive deficits contribute to the social functioning impairments observed in young females with anorexia nervosa (AN). While previous research indicated that individuals with AN and those recovered from the disorder exhibit compromised social interaction, it remained unclear if these issues stemmed from underlying neurocognitive abnormalities or if they persisted after recovery. The researchers aimed to compare neurocognitive performance across three groups—individuals with first-episode AN, those recovered from adolescent-onset AN, and healthy controls—and to determine if specific cognitive functions predicted social functioning levels. The study included 43 young females with first-episode AN, 28 recovered individuals, and 41 controls, all aged 14–22 years and excluded for comorbid autism spectrum disorder. Participants were assessed on seven neurocognitive domains relevant to social interaction: set-shifting, local processing, processing speed, working memory, sustained attention, verbal memory, and verbal abstraction. Social functioning was measured using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Statistical analyses employed mixed-effects models to compare group differences in neurocognition and ordinal logistic regression to test associations between cognitive performance and social functioning, adjusting for age and potential confounding effects of anxiety and depression. The results demonstrated no significant differences in neurocognitive performance between the clinical groups and controls across any of the seven measured domains. Participants with AN and those recovered displayed normal levels of cognitive flexibility, processing speed, and other executive functions. However, social functioning was significantly impaired in both clinical groups compared to controls. Among the cognitive measures, only verbal memory was significantly associated with social functioning. Higher performance in verbal memory was linked to lower odds of impaired social interaction. This association was consistent across all three groups, indicating that the relationship between verbal memory and social function was independent of diagnostic status. Diagnostic group remained a significant predictor of social functioning even after accounting for verbal memory, suggesting that other factors also influence social outcomes in AN. The findings suggest that the social difficulties observed in young individuals with AN are not explained by broad neurocognitive deficits, as their cognitive performance is comparable to that of healthy peers. Instead, verbal memory appears to be a specific cognitive factor associated with social functioning across the general population, including those with eating disorders. The persistence of social impairment in recovered individuals, despite normal neurocognitive profiles, implies that these deficits may be trait-like or related to factors other than acute starvation or general cognitive inefficiency. These results highlight the need to look beyond executive function deficits when addressing social challenges in AN, potentially focusing on temperamental factors, social anxiety, or specific memory-related interventions.

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• cognitive impairment