First-Dose Methylphenidate-Induced Changes in Brain Functional Connectivity Are Correlated With 3-Month...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Child Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly treated with methylphenidate (MPH).
• A significant portion of patients (around 25%) exhibit limited response to MPH.
• Predicting treatment response is crucial for optimizing ADHD management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if early changes in brain functional connectivity (FC) after the first MPH dose predict long-term symptom improvement in boys with ADHD.
• To correlate acute MPH-induced FC alterations with changes in inattention and hyperactivity scores over three months.

Main Methods:

• Forty stimulant-naïve boys with newly diagnosed ADHD underwent functional connectivity (FC) assessment using steady-state visual evoked potential partial coherence.
• FC was measured before and 90 minutes after the first MPH dose during a continuous performance task (AX-CPT).
• Changes in FC were correlated with parent-rated ADHD symptom scores at three months.

Main Results:

• Reductions in frontal-prefrontal FC after the first MPH dose were linked to improved hyperactivity at three months.
• Improvements in inattention at three months correlated with MPH-induced FC reductions in occipitoparietal regions.
• Specific FC changes during different task components ('A' and 'X') predicted symptom outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Early MPH-induced changes in brain functional connectivity can predict treatment response in ADHD.
• Findings suggest a role for the default mode network in MPH's therapeutic effects on ADHD symptoms.
• This research offers insights into personalized ADHD treatment strategies based on neuroimaging biomarkers.