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Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
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Diagnosis of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbid autistic traits (ATs) by applying

Shilong Tang1, Xianfan Liu1, Lisha Nie2

  • 1Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|December 5, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging reveals lower iron content and cerebral blood flow in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autistic traits (ADHD-ATs). These findings aid in distinguishing ADHD-ATs from ADHD without autistic traits.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Quantitative MRI

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Comorbid autistic traits (ATs) in children with ADHD present unique diagnostic challenges.
  • Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers potential biomarkers for neurodevelopmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the feasibility of quantitative MRI techniques for diagnosing children with ADHD comorbid with ATs.
  • To identify specific neuroimaging markers differentiating ADHD-ATs from ADHD without ATs.
  • To investigate iron content and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in key brain regions.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 56 children (4-5 years) with ADHD-ATs and 53 controls with ADHD without ATs.
  • Utilized enhanced T2*-weighted angiography (ESWAN), 3D-PCASL, and 3D-T1 MRI sequences.
  • Analyzed iron content and CBF in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, hippocampus, and caudate nucleus.

Main Results:

  • Children with ADHD-ATs exhibited significantly lower iron content and CBF in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, hippocampus, and caudate nucleus compared to controls (p < 0.05).
  • Iron content and CBF in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and caudate nucleus effectively distinguished between the two groups (AUC > 0.5, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Quantitative MRI techniques, specifically measuring iron content and CBF, can differentiate children with ADHD-ATs.
  • These findings support the diagnostic utility of advanced MRI in pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders.
Abstract

Keywords:
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderautistic traitsbrainchildrenmagnetic resonance imaging

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