Widespread Cortical Thinning Is a Robust Anatomical Marker for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Objective This cross-sectional study sought to confirm the presence and regional profile of previously reported changes in laminar cortical thickness in children and adolescents with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) compared to typically developing healthy subjects. Method High-resolution MR images were obtained from 22 (19 male, 3 female; mean age: 11.7 years) children and adolescents with ADHD and 22 age and sex matched healthy control subjects (mean age: 11.7 years). Brain tissue volumes were estimated for each subject. Cortical pattern matching methods were used to sample measures of laminar thickness at high spatial frequency across homologous regions of cortex. Volume and thickness measures were compared across diagnostic groups with and without controlling for general intelligence. False discovery rate (FDR) correction confirmed regional results. Results Subjects with ADHD exhibited significant reductions in overall brain volume, gray matter volume and mean cortical thickness compared to healthy controls, while white matter volumes were significantly increased in ADHD. Highly significant cortical thinning (FDR-corrected p < .0006) was observed over large areas of frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital association cortices and aspects of motor cortex, but not within primary sensory regions. Conclusions Cortical thickness reductions present a robust neuroanatomical marker for child and adolescent ADHD. Observations of widespread cortical thinning expand upon earlier cross-sectional findings and provide further evidence to support that the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD extend beyond prefrontal and subcortical circuits.

Deviations from the Expectable Environment in Early Childhood and Emerging Psychopathology

“…Using structural imaging, recent data from BEIP (McLaughlin et al, 2013) demonstrated that 8-year-old children with ADHD and histories of institutional rearing had widespread cortical thinning similar to what has been described in children with ADHD without histories of deprivation (Narr et al, 2009;Shaw et al, 2006). Specifically, investigators demonstrated that Romanian children reared in institutions had higher levels of ADHD symptoms and exhibited widespread reductions in cortical thickness across prefrontal, parietal, and temporal regions compared with never institutionalized Romanian children.…”

Cortical morphology as a shared neurobiological substrate of attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms and executive functioning: a population-based pediatric neuroimaging study

“…This finding is in line with those of previous clinical studies that have shown widespread cortical abnormalities. 9,10,13 An important strength of the present study is that, to our knowledge, no previous studies have assessed the role of cortical thickness and gyrification in the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms and cognitive functioning. Studying this topic helps us to understand the underlying neurobiology and high comorbidity of attentiondeficit/hyperactivity symptoms and cognitive problems.…”

“…4,8 This shared genetic background suggests that a common neurobiology under lies ADHD and cognition. Previous neuroimaging studies in ADHD have shown a delay in brain maturation 9 and a thinner cortex 10 throughout most of the cerebrum. In population-based pediatric samples of both healthy children 11 and the population at large 12 the latter association has…”

Nocturnal Enuresis in Children and Adolescent with Sickle cell Anemia

“…It is interesting to note that children and adolescent with attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), like those with SCA, have shown significant reduction in brain volume, gray matter volume and cortical thickness [117]. ADHD which is strongly associated with NE [118] was reported to occur in 19-25% of children with SCA [119].…”