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A neuroanatomical basis for co-occurring low attention and low reading ability

Michael F Romano1, Pierre Nedelec1, Maria Luisa Mandelli2

  • 1Center for Intelligent Imaging, Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, Byers Hall 203, 1700 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States.

Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|July 31, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Brain imaging reveals shared characteristics in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. Reduced cortical area and altered white matter integrity suggest a common underlying susceptibility for these neurodevelopmental disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia frequently co-occur in children.
  • Early identification of shared neurobiological markers can aid diagnosis and understanding of these conditions.
  • Existing research suggests potential overlaps in the neural underpinnings of ADHD and dyslexia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate unique brain characteristics in adolescents exhibiting combined low attention and low reading ability, serving as behavioral markers for ADHD and dyslexia.
  • To identify specific cortical, white matter, and subcortical differences associated with a combined ADHD and dyslexia phenotype.
  • To explore potential shared neurobiological factors contributing to the co-occurrence of ADHD and dyslexia.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of 8779 individuals from the Adolescent Behavioral Cognitive Development study.
  • Modeling of cortical area, subcortical volume, and white matter integrity (fractional anisotropy) in relation to low attention and low reading ability.
  • Utilized imaging, demographic, genetic, and neuropsychiatric data for comprehensive analysis.

Main Results:

  • Reduced cortical area was observed in individuals with low attention and low reading ability separately.
  • Overlapping reductions in orbitofrontal cortex area were found in both groups, persisting after adjustment for total cortical area.
  • Global white matter integrity showed unique differences in individuals with the combined low attention/low reading ability phenotype.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest a shared underlying susceptibility for ADHD and dyslexia.
  • Brain imaging markers, particularly altered white matter integrity and orbitofrontal cortex reductions, may characterize a combined ADHD and dyslexia phenotype.
  • These results support the integration of neuroimaging in the early diagnosis and understanding of co-occurring ADHD and dyslexia.

Keywords:
ADHDMRIdiffusion MRIdyslexianeurocognition

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