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Distinct and shared white matter abnormalities when ADHD is comorbid with ASD: A preliminary diffusion tensor imaging
Yuwen Hung1, Nina T Dallenbach2, Allison Green2
1Athinoula A. Martinos Imaging Center at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA, USA.
Psychiatry Research
|January 14, 2023
Summary
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shows shared and distinct white matter differences. This impacts the callosal-cingulum and frontolimbic tracts, affecting ADHD symptom severity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently co-occurs with ADHD, worsening symptoms and complicating treatment.
- Understanding the neural basis of ADHD with comorbid ASD is crucial for improving outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify shared and distinct neural correlates of ADHD neuropathology in youth with comorbid ADHD and ASD.
- To compare white matter microstructure integrity between ADHD-only and ADHD+ASD groups versus controls.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to analyze white matter integrity.
- Three groups were studied: ADHD+ASD, ADHD-only, and healthy controls.
- Fractional anisotropy (FA) was measured in white matter tracts.
Main Results:
- ADHD-only group showed impaired FA in callosal-cingulum (CC-CG) tracts compared to controls.
- ADHD+ASD group showed impaired FA in CC-CG and frontolimbic tracts (uncinate fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation).
- Lower FA in CC-CG correlated negatively with ADHD symptom severity across all participants.
Conclusions:
- The CC-CG tracts are implicated in ADHD neuropathology and symptom severity.
- Comorbid ASD in ADHD shifts the neuropathological profile towards anterior-brain, frontal impacts.
- Findings may aid in targeted therapeutics, diagnostic precision, and improved prognostication for ADHD and ASD.
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