Gourmand syndrome | |
---|---|
![]() | |
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]
There are two main aspects of gourmand syndrome: first, the fine dining habits and changes to taste, and second, the 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 characterised in 1997. [3]
A new-found obsession for refined foods after frontal lobe injury is the primary characterization of Gourmand syndrome. [2] [1] [3] [4] [5] [6][ excessive citations]
It is believed that the frontotemporal circuits, normally involved in healthy eating, can, when injured, cause gourmand syndrome in patients. [4]
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 had 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 the year of the seizures beginning, his behavior began to change to the 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]
Gourmand syndrome | |
---|---|
![]() | |
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]
There are two main aspects of gourmand syndrome: first, the fine dining habits and changes to taste, and second, the 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 characterised in 1997. [3]
A new-found obsession for refined foods after frontal lobe injury is the primary characterization of Gourmand syndrome. [2] [1] [3] [4] [5] [6][ excessive citations]
It is believed that the frontotemporal circuits, normally involved in healthy eating, can, when injured, cause gourmand syndrome in patients. [4]
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 had 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 the year of the seizures beginning, his behavior began to change to the 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]