Structural development of the basal ganglia in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a diffusion tensor imaging...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• The basal ganglia, particularly the caudate nucleus, are consistently implicated in structural and functional differences observed in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• The caudate nucleus is a critical component of fronto-striatal networks, which are often found to be dysfunctional in individuals with ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the micro-structural organization of the basal ganglia, specifically the caudate nucleus, in children and adolescents with ADHD compared to healthy controls.
• To examine age-related developmental changes in micro-structural properties within the caudate nucleus in ADHD.

Main Methods:

• Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to assess micro-structural properties.
• Regions of interest (ROIs) including the caudate nucleus, putamen, and thalamus were manually identified.
• Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity were measured and analyzed for age-related differences between ADHD and control groups.

Main Results:

• Fractional anisotropy (FA) showed expected age-related increases in the whole brain, putamen, and thalamus for both groups.
• Significant differences in the developmental trajectory of FA with age were observed specifically within the caudate nucleus between the ADHD and control groups.
• These differences suggest a distinct developmental pattern of micro-structural organization in the caudate nucleus in ADHD.

Conclusions:

• The developmental trajectory of micro-structural organization in the caudate nucleus differs between individuals with ADHD and controls during ages 8-18.
• This divergence may stem from a developmental delay that emerges during mid-late adolescence and potentially normalizes later in adolescence.
• Findings highlight specific neurodevelopmental differences in the caudate nucleus relevant to ADHD.