Hormone and metabolic patterns in hypothalamus-like brain cells from people with anorexia nervosa
HOrmone Profiles and Energy Metabolism Signatures in Hypothalamic-like Neurons Generated From Patients With Anorexia Nervosa
University of Zurich · NCT07580209
This study will test whether hypothalamic-like neurons made from adult women with long-standing anorexia nervosa respond differently to metabolic hormones than neurons from healthy women.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | University of Zurich (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Zurich) |
| Trial ID | NCT07580209 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will collect biological samples from premenopausal women with severe, enduring anorexia nervosa and from matched healthy female controls and derive hypothalamic-like neurons from those samples. They will expose these cells to key metabolic hormones and compare hormone responsiveness, cellular metabolism, gene expression profiles, and neuronal activity between groups. The work uses patient-derived cellular models and molecular and functional assays to identify neuroendocrine differences relevant to energy homeostasis. Results aim to link cell-level signatures to clinical features of anorexia nervosa and guide future hypothesis-driven therapeutic research.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adult premenopausal women aged 18–45 with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (illness duration ≥7 years), current or recent BMI ≤18.5 kg/m², able to consent and proficient in German are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are male, younger than 18 or older than 45, currently pregnant or breastfeeding, with severe medical comorbidities, substance dependence, current psychosis, or taking medications that strongly alter metabolic or endocrine function are unlikely to be eligible or benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify biological mechanisms that point to new targets for treatments and help explain disturbances in energy regulation in anorexia nervosa.
How similar studies have performed: Patient-derived neuronal models for psychiatric and metabolic features are a relatively new approach; some prior work hints at altered neuronal signaling in eating disorders but mechanistic findings remain limited and exploratory.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Female participants aged 18-45 years (premenopausal) Diagnosis of severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (illness duration ≥7 years, with documented functional impairment and non-response to appropriate treatments) Current BMI ≤18.5 kg/m² or documented BMI ≤18.5 kg/m² within the past 12 months Ability to provide informed consent Sufficient proficiency in the study language (German) For healthy controls: Female participants aged 18-45 years BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m² No current or past diagnosis of eating disorders No major psychiatric disorder Ability to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Pregnancy or breastfeeding Severe medical comorbidities affecting metabolic or central nervous system function (e.g., uncontrolled endocrine, hepatic, renal, or cardiovascular diseases) Current psychosis or acute suicidality Current serious non-suicidal self-injury Substance dependence Use of medications that substantially alter metabolic or endocrine function (including high-dose systemic corticosteroids, hormonal contraceptives, or psychotropic medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, or anxiolytics) Positive status for HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), or hepatitis C (HCV) Intellectual disability impairing the ability to provide informed consent Insufficient proficiency in the study language
Where this trial is running
Zurich
- Private Praxis, Prof. Dr. Med. Gabriella Milos — Zurich, Switzerland (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Maria Consolata Miletta, PhD — University of Zurich
- Study coordinator: Maria Consolata Miletta, PhD
- Email: maria.miletta@uzh.ch
- Phone: +41(0)432533105
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Anorexia Nervosa, Eating Disorders, Hypothalamus, Neuroendocrinology