Study links non-brain gene variant to anorexia risk
News-Medical reports on a Michigan State University-supported study in Frontiers in Psychiatry that sequenced 154 patients with anorexia nervosa, chosen for strong family history, repeated unsuccessful treatment or unusual features. About 11% carried rare, potentially damaging variants of PLIN4, a gene active mainly in fat and muscle, versus about 3% in a reference population. Researchers say this specialized sample means the early finding needs replication.
Why it matters: Relevant to Maryland clinicians who treat or refer adults with anorexia nervosa, and to readers following research on eating disorders and genetics.
A summary of another publisher's reporting, written with AI and checked automatically against the story. The reporting belongs to news-medical.net. October 8, 2026.