Childhood ADHD is linked to distinct developmental changes in brain white matter
Using data from a massive long-term study, researchers found that 9-year-olds with ADHD have altered white matter microarchitecture. These early differences in nerve organization and cellular density offer new clues into the neurodevelopmental roots of the disorder.
A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging has revealed that children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit unique developmental changes in brain white matter. Researchers from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study found that at age 9, children with ADHD showed signs of reduced glial cellularity in 20 white matter tracts, which may indicate a decrease in support cells like astrocytes and microglia.
By age 14, they observed reduced axonal organization, specifically in 16 white matter tracts, which may suggest an atypical alignment and packing of nerve fibers. These findings, based on advanced MRI scans, suggest that ADHD is linked to specific alterations in the brain's white matter, the tissue responsible for facilitating efficient communication between brain regions.
The study, led by L. Nate Overholtzer, adds to our understanding of the neural basis of ADHD, a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, impulse control, and activity levels. However, the study's smaller sample sizes in later stages, due to higher exclusion rates among children with ADHD, may limit its applicability to the broader ADHD population.
Written by urgent.news from PsyPost's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
