Science & Technology

12-year-old unable to feel thirst or hunger

By T.K. Randall
October 27, 2014

Image: Inside My Head
Credit: Andrew Mason / CC BY 2.0 (adapted) For much of his life 12-year-old Landon had the same appetite as anyone else his age and enjoyed eating ice-cream, pizza and all the other foods you would expect a young boy to crave.

But upon waking up one morning Landon's appetite had mysteriously disappeared. He was no longer able to feel any impulse to either eat or drink - these fundamental sensations had simply vanished overnight without explanation.The problem become increasingly apparent as his parents noticed him becoming worryingly thin and his school pack lunch box would still be full when he got home.

Doctors believe that Landon's hypothalamus, a pea-sized control center at the base of the brain, has malfunctioned, however they have no idea why or how to treat it. The case is in fact so rare that it is the first of its kind documented anywhere in the world.

"The challenge of understanding brain function out of the tool kit we have ... is still quite inadequate," said neurologist Dr. Marc Patterson. "We looked very hard investigating Landon, and we've not been able to make any definite diagnosis."

Source: First Coast News

Tags: Hunger, Thirst