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White Matter Microstructural Abnormalities in Children with Familial vs. Non-Familial Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity

Rahman Baboli1,2, Kai Wu3, Jeffrey M Halperin4

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.

Biomedicines
|March 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Familial ADHD (ADHD-F) shows distinct white matter differences in frontal-thalamic pathways compared to non-familial ADHD (ADHD-NF). These microstructural alterations are linked to ADHD symptom severity in children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with varied presentations.
  • Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of familial versus non-familial ADHD is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate white matter microstructural differences between familial ADHD (ADHD-F) and non-familial ADHD (ADHD-NF).
  • To explore the relationship between white matter alterations and ADHD symptom severity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analyses.
  • Examined a large, community-based sample of children with ADHD-F, ADHD-NF, and controls.
  • Performed comprehensive white matter microstructural assessments.

Main Results:

  • Children with ADHD-F showed greater white matter volume in specific tracts (right anterior thalamic radiations, left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus) compared to controls.
  • ADHD-F group had greater left inferior longitudinal fasciculus volume than ADHD-NF.
  • ADHD-NF group exhibited reduced fractional anisotropy in the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus compared to controls.
  • Increased anterior thalamic radiation volume correlated with reduced ADHD symptoms in both ADHD-F and ADHD-NF groups.

Conclusions:

  • White matter alterations in frontal-thalamic pathways are implicated in the hereditary component of ADHD (ADHD-F).
  • These microstructural differences significantly contribute to inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive behaviors in children with ADHD.
  • Findings highlight distinct neurobiological profiles between familial and non-familial ADHD.

Keywords:
ABCD datasetdiffusion tensor imagingfamilial ADHDnon-familial ADHDwhite matter tract

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