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Structural brain imaging of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Larry J Seidman1, Eve M Valera, Nikos Makris
1Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit and Psychiatric Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. larry_seidman@hms.harvard.edu
Biological Psychiatry
|June 14, 2005
Summary
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is linked to widespread brain abnormalities, particularly smaller volumes in key areas like the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum in children. Further research is needed to understand its progression into adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often hypothesized to involve frontal-striatal circuitry abnormalities.
- Previous research, though often underpowered, has provided substantial support for this hypothesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize the existing literature on structural and functional brain abnormalities in children with ADHD.
- To highlight the consistency of findings despite methodological limitations and identify areas for future research.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on brain structure and function in children diagnosed with ADHD.
- Synthesis of findings, focusing on replicated alterations and acknowledging limitations such as sample size and heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- Replicated findings indicate significantly smaller brain volumes in children with ADHD, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, caudate, pallidum, corpus callosum, and cerebellum.
- Brain abnormalities in ADHD appear more widespread than initially hypothesized, extending beyond the frontal-striatal regions.
Conclusions:
- The brain is altered in a more widespread manner in childhood ADHD than previously thought.
- Developmental studies are crucial to understand how ADHD evolves into adulthood.