Headache and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children: common condition with complex relation and...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Headache and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are prevalent, disabling conditions in children.
• Both disorders significantly impair a child's quality of life, affecting cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development.
• Understanding the co-occurrence and shared pathophysiology is vital for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze existing literature on the association between headache and ADHD in pediatric populations.
• To explore the potential impact of this comorbidity on child neurological development.
• To investigate the physiopathogenesis underlying the overlap between headache and ADHD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search using keywords: headache, migraine, tension-type headache, ADHD, and children.
• Analysis of clinical, epidemiological, and physiopathogenetic data from relevant studies.
• Focus on studies examining the overlap and potential shared mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Literature data reveal a complex association between headache and ADHD in children, with varied findings.
• Studies indicate both clinical and epidemiological overlap between these conditions.
• Emerging evidence points to shared abnormalities in brain network structures and functions.

Conclusions:

• Structural and functional brain network abnormalities are implicated in the pathophysiology of both headache and ADHD.
• Further investigation into altered subcortical-cortical and corticocortical network development is essential.
• A deeper understanding of these neurodevelopmental alterations is critical for addressing the comorbidity.