Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Its Relationship With Executive Functions in Adult Attention Deficit...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder impacting executive functions.
• Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, measurable via optical coherence tomography (OCT), is a potential biomarker for neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare RNFL thickness in adults with ADHD versus healthy controls.
• To investigate the relationship between RNFL thickness and ADHD symptom severity.
• To examine correlations between RNFL thickness and executive function test performance in ADHD.

Main Methods:

• 38 adults with ADHD and 30 healthy controls participated.
• ADHD symptom severity was assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale.
• Executive functions were evaluated using the Digit Span Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Stroop Test, and Trail Making Test.
• RNFL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Main Results:

• ADHD cases exhibited statistically significant thinner RNFL in several quadrants (right mean, temporal, temporal inferior; left mean, nasal, nasal inferior) compared to controls (p<0.05).
• No significant correlation was observed between mean RNFL thickness and ADHD symptom severity.
• No significant correlation was found between mean RNFL thickness and performance on executive function tests.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to investigate RNFL thickness in relation to symptom severity and neuropsychological tests in adults with ADHD.
• Findings suggest potential structural retinal changes in adults with ADHD, warranting further research.
• RNFL thickness may not directly correlate with current symptom severity or executive function deficits in this population.