Substance Abuse and Anorexia Nervosa
Substance abuse is a common issue among individuals with anorexia nervosa. In fact, research suggests that up to 50% of people with AN engage in alcohol or drug abuse, a significantly higher percentage compared to the general population where only 9% are affected. A study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders revealed that individuals with AN accounted for the largest number of cases with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence (35%), a risk three times higher than other eating disorders.
Interestingly, those with AN also exhibited the highest rate of drug abuse across all drug categories, although one study noted that individuals with binge eating disorder had the highest rate of drug abuse. Experts have put forth several theories to explain this correlation. For instance, stimulant drugs like cocaine can suppress appetite, providing a perverse solution for individuals with AN who are striving to limit food intake. In addition, alcohol can act as a coping mechanism for individuals battling depression and other emotional struggles that often accompany the disorder. It is worth mentioning that substance abuse can also replace the addiction to not eating during the recovery process from AN.
Impacts of Anorexia on Cognition and Memory
Studies have revealed that individuals suffering from long-term anorexia may experience significant deficiencies in cognitive ability and memory. Research has demonstrated that there is a correlation between a person’s body mass index (BMI) and the extent of impairment in memory and cognitive function. In fact, one study found that individuals with a lower BMI due to anorexia were more likely to have impaired memory and cognitive function.
A more recent study conducted in 2019 further highlighted the detrimental effects of long-term anorexia on cognitive abilities. The research indicated that the duration of anorexia nervosa (AN) is directly related to the severity of impairments in various cognitive functions, including verbal reasoning, non-verbal and serial planning, spatial planning, cognitive flexibility, new rule learning, cognitive inhibition, and answer perseverance.
What’s more, even after eighteen years of recovery from anorexia, individuals still exhibited difficulties with attention, executive function, mentalizing, and a range of other cognitive abilities when compared to individuals with bulimia or those without any eating disorder.