Abstract
Structural abnormality of the substantia nigra can be detected by transcranial sonography in neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson disease and restless legs syndrome. We investigated echogenicity of the substantia nigra as a potential structural marker for dysfunction of the nigrostriatal dopamine system in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We used a blinded design and determined echogenicity of the substantia nigra by use of transcranial sonography in 22 children with ADHD and 22 healthy controls matched for age and sex. The echogenic substantia nigra area was significantly larger in ADHD patients than in healthy controls (F(1,42) = 9.298, p = 0.004, effect size = 0.92). We found no effects of age or sex. Owing to a lack of dimensional assessment, we could not analyze the correlation between echogenicity and clinical symptoms. Our results support the hypothesis that the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system is abnormal in children with ADHD.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
