Age-dependent and -independent changes in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during spatial working
Steffen Bollmann1,2,3,4,5, Carmen Ghisleni1,2,3,6, Simon-Shlomo Poil1,3
1a Center for MR-Research, University Children's Hospital , Zurich , Switzerland.
Summary
This study found that adults and children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) show different brain activity patterns during spatial working memory tasks. Age-invariant frontostriatal deficits suggest core ADHD pathophysiology, while age-dependent prefrontal differences point to maturation and compensation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is linked to spatial working memory and frontostriatal deficits.
- The differences in these deficits between children and adults with ADHD are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-invariant and age-dependent abnormalities in spatial working memory in children and adults with ADHD.
- To explore the relationship between frontostriatal deficits and working memory function across different age groups in ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to study spatial working memory under varying cognitive loads.
- Participants included 26 children and 35 adults, comprising both ADHD patients and healthy controls.
Main Results:
- ADHD patients showed reduced brain activity load effects in parietal and frontostriatal regions compared to controls, despite similar task performance.
- Younger ADHD patients exhibited negative load effects in medial prefrontal regions, indicating decreased activity with increasing load.
- Age-dependent load effect differences were primarily observed in prefrontal regions, while age-invariant differences were prominent in frontostriatal areas.
Conclusions:
- Age-dependent prefrontal alterations suggest a role for maturation and compensatory mechanisms in ADHD.
- Age-invariant frontostriatal abnormalities provide evidence for these regions reflecting core ADHD pathophysiology.
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