Inside a Hoarder’s Brain: Why They Can’t Ditch Their Stuff

Hoarders, or people who can’t bear to throw away even the most useless of junk, often can’t see that they have a problem. But now new research pinpoints that problem in the brains of these individuals.

A new study finds abnormal activity in brain regions of people with hoarding disorder who were asked to make decisions about keeping something versus tossing it. The brain regions involved are known to be involved with decision-making under uncertain conditions as well as risk assessment and emotional choices.

"Hoarding seems to be characterized by problems in the decision-making process that can be seen in patterns of brain activity," said David Tolin, the director of the anxiety disorders center at the Connecticut-based mental health center The Institute of Living.