Neuroimaging-Aided Prediction of the Effect of Methylphenidate in Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity

Ayaka Ishii-Takahashi1,2,3, Ryu Takizawa3, Yukika Nishimura3

  • 1Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Insights

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can predict treatment response in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) receiving methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH). This neuroimaging biomarker shows potential for guiding MPH treatment decisions and monitoring effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH) is a first-line ADHD treatment, but 30% of children do not respond.
  • Predicting MPH response is crucial for effective ADHD management in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a neuroimaging biomarker using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict clinical response to MPH in children with ADHD.
  • To assess the predictive value of baseline NIRS and single-dose MPH response (ΔNIRS) for long-term MPH treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial involving single-dose MPH, followed by a 4-to-8-week open-label MPH trial and 1-year follow-up.
  • NIRS measurements were taken at baseline, after single-dose MPH, and after continuous MPH administration in children with ADHD (drug-naïve and previously treated) and healthy controls.
  • A leave-one-out classification algorithm was used to determine the accuracy of NIRS in predicting clinical outcomes (CGI-S scores).

Main Results:

  • ΔNIRS significantly predicted Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) scores after 4-to-8-week and 1-year MPH administration.
  • The NIRS-based classification algorithm achieved 81% accuracy in predicting treatment response.
  • Drug-naïve children with ADHD showed lower baseline prefrontal activation, which normalized after MPH treatment, suggesting MPH's efficacy in modulating brain activity.

Conclusions:

  • Supplementary NIRS measurements show promise as an objective biomarker for predicting and monitoring MPH treatment response in children with ADHD.
  • NIRS could aid in personalized treatment strategies and improve clinical decision-making for MPH therapy.
  • The findings support the use of NIRS to identify children likely to benefit from MPH and to track treatment effectiveness over time.