ABSTRACT
Childhood and adolescence have long been assumed to be a period of significant neuroplasticity, with the brain responding to environmental and maturational demands to shape development towards more efficient adult brain processes. This maturation occurs though a combination of apoptosis and synaptic proliferation, which enable the brain to be responsive to environmental challenges while refining and maximizing important connections. Synaptogenesis provides the basis for reinforcing cognitive processes such that what fires together wires together, making these connections stronger. Further, adolescent brains are at the peak of myelination, increasing speed and efficiency of existing connections. First, identifying neurocognitive profiles associated with illness chronicity will help further refine and target treatments. Refining the role of Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) as an adjunctive treatment is another area. This is well-suited to child and adolescent eating disorders, given the availability of empirically supported treatments for this group; evaluating whether CRT sufficiently enhances treatment to increase recovery rates or resolution of specific symptoms.
