Open AccessDisorder-specific brain volumetric abnormalities in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder relative to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Author(s) -
Ariadna Albajara Sáenz,
Peter Van Schuerbeek,
Simon Baijot,
Mathilde Septier,
Nicolas Deconinck,
Pierre Defresne,
Véronique Delvenne,
Gianfranco Passeri,
Hubert Raeymaekers,
Hichem Slama,
Laurent Victoor,
Éric Willaye,
Philippe Peigneux,
Thomas Villemonteix,
Isabelle Massat
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0241856
Subject(s) - autism spectrum disorder , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , precuneus , brain size , neurocognitive , psychology , voxel based morphometry , autism , neurodevelopmental disorder , neuroimaging , spectrum disorder , medicine , audiology , neuroscience , magnetic resonance imaging , psychiatry , cognition , white matter , radiology
The overlap/distinctiveness between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been increasingly investigated in recent years, particularly since the DSM-5 allows the dual diagnosis of ASD and ADHD, but the underlying brain mechanisms remain unclear. Although both disorders are associated with brain volumetric abnormalities, it is necessary to unfold the shared and specific volume abnormalities that could contribute to explain the similarities and differences in the clinical and neurocognitive profiles between ADHD and ASD. In this voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study, regional grey matter volumes (GMV) were compared between 22 children with ADHD, 18 children with ASD and 17 typically developing (TD) children aged 8 to 12 years old, controlling for age and total intracranial volume. When compared to TD children or children with ASD, children with ADHD had a larger left precuneus, and a smaller right thalamus, suggesting that these brain abnormalities are specific to ADHD relative to ASD. Overall, this study contributes to the delineation of disorder-specific structural abnormalities in ADHD and ASD.