The IAA One Minute Blog

Researchers have found changes in almost all the regions of the brain they investigated via a MRI scan of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

New Research on the Brain and ADHD

Children with ADHD had abnormal connectivity in the brain networks involved in memory processing and auditory processing, a thinning of the brain cortex, and significant white matter microstructural changes, especially in the frontal lobe of the brain, as compared to children who did not have ADHD.

The new research was based on an analysis of data from MRI exams of 7,805 children. The researchers used nationally representative MRI data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development, known as the ABCD study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States.

The children whose data was analyzed for the study included 1,800 diagnosed with ADHD, all of whom underwent structural MRI scans, diffusion tensor with imaging and resting-state functional MRI.

The researchers performed a statistical analysis of the imaging data to determine the association of ADHD with neuroimaging metrics, including brain volume, surface area, white matter, integrity, and functional connectivity.

The researchers described their findings as surprising since many previous studies have identified changes only in select parts of the brain in people with ADHD.

The study underscores that ADHD is a neurological disorder not just an externalized behavior syndrome.

Symptoms of ADHD

The symptoms of ADHD vary from person to person, but consist of some combination of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity:

• Hyperactivity: Children with ADHD are unable sit still and pay attention in class. They may roam around the room, squirm in their seats, wiggle their feet, touch everything, or noisily tap a pencil.
• Impulsivity: People who are overly impulsive seem unable to think before they act. As a result, they may blurt out answers to questions or inappropriate comments or run into the street without looking. Their impulsivity may make it difficult for them to wait for things they want or to take their turn in games. They often have difficulty making and keeping friends.
• Inattention: You may notice restlessness, procrastination, problems remembering obligations, trouble staying seated in meetings or activities, or starting multiple projects at the same time, but rarely finishing them.

Nationwide, an estimated 6 million children ages three to 17 have ever been given an ADHD diagnosis.

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America wants you to know what is going on in the world of health. Keep up to date with IAA!

Interested in reading more on this topic? Click here.