Gourmand syndrome

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Gourmand syndrome
LobesCaptsLateral.png
Frontal lobe (at right)
Specialty Neurology

Gourmand syndrome is a very rare and benign eating disorder that usually occurs six to twelve months after an injury to the frontal lobe. [1] [2] [3] [4] Those with the disorder usually have a right hemisphere frontal or temporal brain lesion typically affecting the cortical areas, basal ganglia or limbic structures. [3] [2] [5] [6] These people develop a new, post-injury passion for gourmet food. [3] [2] [5] [4]

Contents

There are two main aspects of gourmand syndrome: first, the fine dining habits and changes to taste, and second, an obsessive component which may result in craving and preservation. [2] Gourmand syndrome can be related to, and shares biological features with, addictive and obsessive disorders. [2] [3] The syndrome was first characterized in 1997. [3]

Signs and symptoms

A new-found obsession with refined foods after frontal lobe injury is the primary characterization of Gourmand syndrome. [2]

Causes

It is believed that the frontotemporal circuits, which are normally involved in healthy eating, can cause gourmand syndrome when they are injured. [4]

History

Only 36 people had been diagnosed with gourmand syndrome as of 2001. [6] In many of these cases, the patient did not have any interest in food beforehand nor any family history with eating disorders. [5] [2] [3]

The first, most famous case was seen in 1997 by Regard and Landis in the journal Neurology . [2] [3] After a Swiss stroke patient was released from the hospital, he immediately quit his job as a political journalist and took up the profession of food critic. [3] Regard and Landis also observed an athletic businessman with this condition whose family was shocked to see such a sudden, drastic change in his diet. [3]

Only one case of gourmand syndrome has been reported in a child. He was born with issues with his right temporal lobe. At eight years old he began to experience seizures. Within a year of the seizures beginning, his behavior began exhibit symptoms of gourmand syndrome. [2]

In 2014, a man that was once interested in marathon running now was only interested in gastronomy, traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to eat gourmet food. He became a famous gastronomic critic and gained 50 kg (110 pounds). [5]

References

  1. ↑ Pascual-Leone, Alvaro; Alonso-Alonso, Miguel (2007-04-25). "The Right Brain Hypothesis for Obesity". JAMA. 297 (16): 1819–1822. doi:10.1001/jama.297.16.1819. ISSN   0098-7484. PMID   17456824.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kurian, M.; Schmitt-Mechelke, T.; Korff, C.; Delavelle, J.; Landis, T.; Seeck, M. (2008). ""Gourmand syndrome" in a child with pharmacoresistant epilepsy". Epilepsy & Behavior. 13 (2): 413–415. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.04.004. PMID   18502182. S2CID   29040664.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Regard, Marianne; Landis, Theodor (1997). ""Gourmand syndrome": Eating passion associated with right anterior lesions". Neurology. 48 (5): 1185–1190. doi:10.1212/WNL.48.5.1185. PMID   9153440. S2CID   19234711.
  4. 1 2 3 Uher, R.; Treasure, J. (2004). "Brain lesions and eating disorders". J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 76 (6): 852–857. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2004.048819. PMC   1739667 . PMID   15897510.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Gallo, M.; Gámiz, F.; Perez-Garíca, M.; Morals, R.; Rolls, T. (2014). "Taste and olfactory status in a gourmand with a right amygdala lesion". Neurocase. 20 (4): 421–433. doi:10.1080/13554794.2013.791862. hdl: 10481/86875 . PMID   23668221. S2CID   13334347.
  6. 1 2 Cummings, Jeffery L.; Lichter, David G. (2001). Frontal-Subcortical Circuits in Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. New York, London: Guliford Press. pp. 167–169. ISBN   1-57230-623-8.

Further reading

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