White matter microstructure predicts autistic traits in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Miriam Cooper,Derek K Jones,Anita Thapar

doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2131-9

Miriam Cooper, Derek K Jones + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2131-9

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Abstract

Traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have previously been found to index clinical severity. This study examined the association of ASD traits with diffusion parameters in adolescent males with ADHD (n = 17), and also compared WM microstructure relative to controls (n = 17). Significant associations (p < 0.05, corrected) were found between fractional anisotropy/radial diffusivity and ASD trait severity (positive and negative correlations respectively), mostly in the right posterior limb of the internal capsule/corticospinal tract, right cerebellar peduncle and the midbrain. No case–control differences were found for the diffusion parameters investigated. This is the first report of a WM microstructural signature of autistic traits in ADHD. Thus, even in the absence of full disorder, ASD traits may index a distinctive underlying neurobiology in ADHD.

Highlights

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder, with a male:female prevalence bias of 2–3:1 in general population samples (Polanczyk et al 2007, Ramtekkar et al 2010)
This study examined the association of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits with diffusion parameters in adolescent males with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (n = 17), and compared WM microstructure relative to controls (n = 17)
The correlation analyses in the ADHD group were run with all 17 ADHD participants who had usable diffusion data

Summary

Introduction

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder, with a male:female prevalence bias of 2–3:1 in general population samples (Polanczyk et al 2007, Ramtekkar et al 2010). It is associated with intellectual disability (ID) (Dykens 2000) and other neurodevelopmental conditions, notably autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Rommelse et al 2010). Standard structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown many brain abnormalities in ADHD (Cortese and Castellanos 2012).

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