Scientists studied more than 6,000 children to discover which connections between neurons are typical of ADHD, which could reveal comorbidities of the condition
31 Jan 2024 – 19h07
(updated at 11:34 pm)
A new brain MRI technique has allowed scientists to discover brain wiring patterns common in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Involving more than 6,000 infants, the method observed the activity of neurons while the patients were at rest, analyzed by imaging. MRI functional (fMRI).
Photo: Pressmaster/Envato / Canaltech
Most human behavior is controlled by coordinated communication between neurons in different areas of the brain, so it is possible to discover how the organ orchestrates complex functions by observing neuronal activity at rest.
Various neurological conditions — not just the ADHD — can be better understood this way, especially when comparing CT scans with those of neurotypical people and looking for patterns. This is what the present study intended to do.
How to identify the brain with ADHD?
Among the problems that research on ADHD face, there is a small sample size and inconsistency in methods, making more definitive conclusions difficult. That’s when Oregon Health and Science University decided to use large databases to analyze brain scans covering areas larger than any study. The method was called “polyneural scoring” (PNRS, in its original acronym).
Using MRI, it was possible to identify patterns of ADHD in the brain, which will reveal a lot about the condition (Image: Rawpixel/Envato)
Foto: Canaltech
According to the conclusions of the responsible scientists, there was a strong association between the connectivity patterns of the entire brain and the ADHD symptoms evaluated in two different groups.
With the technique, the researchers claim that it is possible to analyze and draw conclusions from even smaller databases, being able to identify mechanisms shared by various neurological and psychiatric conditions.
One of the possibilities that the method will allow is to investigate whether a typical PNRS of ADHD would also be associated with symptoms of depression or general health comorbidities. With more and more diagnoses of the disorder emerging, science seeks to discover more about the condition, whose neurobiology is still little known.
Source: JNeurosci
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