Disorder-specific brain volumetric abnormalities in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder relative to Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Ariadna Albajara Sáenz,Hichem Slama,Véronique Delvenne,Pierre Defresne,Thomas Villemonteix,Eric Willaye,Simon Baijot,Hubert Raeymaekers,Mathilde Septier,Nicolas Deconinck,Laurent Victoor,Isabelle Massat,Philippe Peigneux,Gianfranco Passeri,Peter Van Schuerbeek,Niels Bergsland

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0241856

Abstract

The overlap/distinctiveness between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been increasingly investigated in recent years, particularly since the DSM-5 allows the dual diagnosis of ASD and ADHD, but the underlying brain mechanisms remain unclear. Although both disorders are associated with brain volumetric abnormalities, it is necessary to unfold the shared and specific volume abnormalities that could contribute to explain the similarities and differences in the clinical and neurocognitive profiles between ADHD and ASD. In this voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study, regional grey matter volumes (GMV) were compared between 22 children with ADHD, 18 children with ASD and 17 typically developing (TD) children aged 8 to 12 years old, controlling for age and total intracranial volume. When compared to TD children or children with ASD, children with ADHD had a larger left precuneus, and a smaller right thalamus, suggesting that these brain abnormalities are specific to ADHD relative to ASD. Overall, this study contributes to the delineation of disorder-specific structural abnormalities in ADHD and ASD.

Highlights

IQ was significantly higher in the typically developing (TD) group compared to either the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (p = 0.003) or the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) group (p = 0.012)
Total brain and total grey matter volumes were numerically lower for the ADHD group compared to the TD group, in line with previous literature, the difference failed to reach significance
Post-hoc analysis confirmed that decreased grey matter volumes (GMV) in the right thalamus and increased GMV in the left precuneus were found in the ADHD group when compared to both the TD and the ASD groups, suggesting these volume abnormalities may be specific to ADHD

Summary

Introduction

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are two neurodevelopmental disorders with distinct core diagnostic criteria that often co-occur. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion