Cerebellar gray matter density in females with ADHD combined type: a cross-sectional voxel-based morphometry study

MRI studies have shown a decreased cerebellum volume in individuals with ADHD. However, most of these studies were conducted with male children, many of whom were medicated with stimulants. As such, unmedicated, non-White girls are underrepresented in such MRI studies.

The aim of the present study was to compare the density of gray matter (GM) in the cerebellar hemisphere between unmedicated, non-White female children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with ADHD combined type (ADHD-C) and healthy controls.

MRIs were performed on 11 Hispanic unmedicated ADHD-C children (6-10 years old), 8 Hispanic adolescents (14-17 years old), 10 Hispanic adults (25-35 years old), and the respective healthy controls. Image processing and statistical analyses were performed by Voxel Based Morphometry using the DARTEL algorithm to improve spatial normalization.

Reduced GM density located in the right cerebellar hemisphere was found in female children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD-C.

These findings suggest that there is an anatomical abnormality in the right cerebellar hemisphere in unmedicated Hispanic girls with ADHD-C that is present from childhood to adulthood.