Gourmand syndrome
Rare eating disorder caused by injury to the frontal lobe or limbic structures
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Gourmand syndrome | |
|---|---|
| |
| Frontal lobe (at right) | |
| Specialty | Neurology |
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 high-quality 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]