Methylphenidate Effects on Cortical Thickness in Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A
K B Walhovd1,2, I Amlien1, A Schrantee3
1From the Department of Psychology (K.B.W., I.A., D.A.R., A.B., A.M.F.), Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition.
Insights
Methylphenidate (MPH) affects brain development differently in children versus adults. This ADHD medication slowed cortical thinning in pediatric brains but not in adult brains.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Methylphenidate (MPH) is a common ADHD treatment.
- Its effects on brain development remain unclear.
- Investigating age-related cortical changes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how age modulates the cortical effects of MPH.
- To understand MPH's impact on brain development in ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- 99 males with ADHD, aged 10-12 or 23-40 years.
- 16-week treatment with MPH or placebo; MRI-based cortical thickness measurement.
Main Results:
- Significant time × medication × age interaction observed.
- MPH treatment reduced cortical thinning in children's right medial cortex.
- No significant effect on cortical thinning in adults or placebo groups.
Conclusions:
- MPH's effects on cortical thickness vary by age.
- Suggests MPH influences gray matter development in children.
- Further research with larger cohorts and longer follow-up is needed.
Background And Purpose:
Although methylphenidate is frequently used to treat children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, it is currently unknown how methylphenidate affects brain development. In a randomized controlled trial, we investigated whether the cortical effects of methylphenidate are modulated by age.
Materials And Methods:
Between June 1, 2011, and June 15, 2015, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Effects of Psychotropic Drugs on Developing Brain-Methylphenidate) in 99 males with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, criteria) from referral centers in the greater Amsterdam area in the Netherlands. The trial was registered on March 24, 2011 (identifier NL34509.000.10) and subsequently at the Netherlands National Trial Register (identifier NTR3103). Participants (first enrolled October 13, 2011) were 10-12 years or 23-40 years of age and randomized to treatment with either methylphenidate or a placebo for 16 weeks. Our main outcome was a change in cortical thickness in predefined ROIs as measured by MR imaging pre- and posttreatment.
Results:
We observed a time × medication × age interaction (F[1,88.825] = 4.316, P < .05) for the right medial cortex ROI, where methylphenidate treatment yielded less cortical thinning in children, but not in adults or the placebo groups.
Conclusions:
Our finding that the effects of methylphenidate on right medial cortical thickness differ between children and adults infers that the drug affects gray matter development in this brain region. This warrants replication in larger groups with longer follow-up to determine whether this effect can also be observed in other cortical brain regions and whether it may have long-term consequences.
More Related Videos
05:48The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
13:09Using Brain Activation nir-HEG/Q-EEG and Execution Measures CPTs in a ADHD Assessment Protocol
Published on: April 1, 2018
