Quantitative susceptibility mapping shows lower brain iron content in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Pediatric Neurology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Iron is crucial for brain development and function.
• Altered iron metabolism has been implicated in ADHD pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in children with ADHD.
• To investigate differences in brain iron content between children with ADHD and healthy controls.
• To identify potential neuroimaging biomarkers for ADHD.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study including 53 children with ADHD (aged 5-16) and 49 age/gender-matched healthy controls.
• All participants underwent MRI including conventional sequences, 3D-T1, and enhanced T2*-weighted imaging (ESWAN).
• Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) was used to measure iron content in various brain regions.

Main Results:

• Children with ADHD showed significantly lower iron content in the frontal lobe, globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, substantia nigra, putamen, and hippocampus compared to controls (p < .05).
• No significant interhemispheric difference in iron content was observed in children with ADHD (p > .05).
• Reduced frontal lobe and hippocampal volumes were noted in children with ADHD (p < .05).
• Iron content in the globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, and putamen could distinguish children with ADHD (AUC > 0.5, p < .05).

Conclusions:

• Quantitative susceptibility mapping demonstrates reduced iron content in specific brain regions in children with ADHD.
• QSM may serve as a valuable tool for characterizing brain iron alterations in pediatric ADHD.
• These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD.