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Regional Volumetric Differences Based on Structural MRI in Children With Two Subtypes of ADHD and Controls
Margaret Semrud-Clikeman1, Jodene Goldenring Fine2, Jesse Bledsoe3
11 University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Insights
Children with ADHD Combined type show smaller brain volumes in the caudate and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). These brain structure differences suggest distinct ADHD subtypes may represent different phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
- ADHD presents with heterogeneous clinical presentations, often categorized into subtypes.
- Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD subtypes is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures in specific brain regions between children with ADHD subtypes and controls.
- To investigate the relationship between behavioral ratings of attention and hyperactivity and regional brain volumes.
Main Methods:
- Volumetric MRI scans were acquired from 74 children: 27 controls, 25 with ADHD: Combined type (ADHD:C), and 22 with ADHD: Inattentive type (ADHD:I).
- Region-of-interest analysis focused on the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and caudate nucleus.
- Parental behavioral ratings for attention and hyperactivity were collected.
Main Results:
- The ADHD:C group exhibited significantly smaller bilateral volumes of the caudate and ACC compared to controls and the ADHD:I group.
- Parental ratings of attention positively predicted right ACC volume.
- Hyperactivity ratings predicted right caudate volume and, to some extent, right ACC volume.
Conclusions:
- Distinct brain structural differences exist between ADHD subtypes, specifically in the caudate and ACC.
- These findings support the hypothesis that ADHD subtypes may represent biologically distinct phenotypes.
- Neuroimaging findings have implications for understanding the heterogeneity of ADHD.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to compare groups of children with two subtypes of ADHD and controls on selected regions using volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures. Children with ADHD were expected to have smaller volumes of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and caudate. Parent behavioral rating measures of hyperactivity were predicted to relate to the volume of the caudate and attention with the ACC.
Method:
There were a total of 74 children in the final sample (27 controls, 25 ADHD:Combined type [ADHD:C], 22 ADHD:Inattentive type [ADHD:I]).
Results:
Findings indicated that the ADHD:C group had bilaterally smaller volumes of the caudate and ACC compared with the other two groups. In addition, parent ratings of attention and hyperactivity significantly predicted the right volume of the ACC, whereas hyperactivity ratings predicted the volume of the right caudate. Analysis of the ADHD groups without the control confirmed these findings.
Conclusion:
These findings indicate that different structures are related to the ADHD subtypes and suggest that they may be different phenotypes.
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