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Brain abnormalities in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder assessed by multi-delay arterial spin
Oyundari Gonchigsuren1, Masafumi Harada2, Sonoka Hisaoka2
1Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima University, 3-18-15, Kuromoto-cho, Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan. gonchigsurenoyundari@gmail.com.
Insights
This study investigated brain differences in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Boys with ADHD showed decreased brain activity, while girls with ADHD displayed increased activity in specific frontal and parietal regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Previous research on ADHD brain differences has yielded inconsistent findings, particularly regarding sex-based variations.
- Understanding hemodynamic and morphological brain changes in ADHD is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore correlations between hemodynamic and morphological brain changes in children with ADHD.
- To investigate potential sex differences in these brain alterations.
- To utilize advanced neuroimaging techniques for a comprehensive analysis.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 23 children with ADHD and 24 controls.
- Utilized 3D multi-delay pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) for cerebral blood flow assessment.
- Employed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and statistical parameter mapping (SPM) for gray matter volume analysis.
Main Results:
- Children with ADHD showed reduced regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and gray matter volume (GMV) in the left middle frontal and postcentral gyri compared to controls.
- Boys with ADHD exhibited decreased rCBF and GMV in the left lingual and inferior occipital gyri.
- Girls with ADHD displayed increased rCBF and GMV in the left superior frontal gyrus.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest distinct patterns of cerebral perfusion and gray matter volume changes in ADHD, varying by sex.
- Boys with ADHD demonstrated decreased activity, whereas girls with ADHD showed increased activity in fronto-parietal regions.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these sex-specific neurobiological differences in ADHD.
Purpose:
To obtain an understanding of the correlation between hemodynamic differences and morphological changes as well as potential sex differences in children with ADHD using multi-delay pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) imaging and voxel-based morphometry (VBM), especially given that previous findings are limited for girls.
Materials And Methods:
We recruited 23 children with ADHD (mean age, 8.3 years; 19 boys; 4 girls) and 24 children without ADHD (mean age, 9.1 years; 13 boys; 11 girls) as controls. All participants underwent 3D multi-delay pCASL and T1-weighted imaging. The voxel-based statistical parameter mapping (SPM) method was used for group-wise comparisons.
Results:
Compared with controls, children with ADHD exhibited decreased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and gray matter volume (GMV) in the left middle frontal gyrus and left postcentral gyrus. Analysis by sex revealed reduced rCBF and GMV in the left lingual gyrus and left inferior occipital gyrus in boys with ADHD versus controls and increased rCBF and GMV in the left superior frontal gyrus in girls with ADHD.
Conclusion:
Although our results are preliminary because of small sample sizes, several brain regions exhibit changes in both cerebral perfusion and GMV in the same direction in patients with ADHD, with boys with ADHD showing decreased activity and girls with ADHD displaying increased activity in the fronto-parietal cortices.
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