Differentiating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder inattentive and combined types: a (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of fronto-striato-thalamic regions

J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2009 May;116(5):623-9. doi: 10.1007/s00702-009-0191-3. Epub 2009 Apr 28.

Abstract

Despite the implication of fronto-striatal circuits in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is a lack of information on the role of these regions, especially the thalamus, in the heterogeneity of ADHD. We assessed the (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy profile in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC)-thalamic-striatal regions bilaterally in three groups of subjects (age range 18-24 years old): ADHD inattentive type (ADHD-I; n = 9), ADHD combined type (ADHD-C; n = 10) and non-ADHD controls (n = 12). The peaks of N-acetylaspartate, Choline (Cho), myo-inositol (mI), creatine (Cr) and glutamate-glutamine-GABA (Glx) to Cr were calculated. Subjects with ADHD-C showed lower mI/Cr ratio in the right VMPFC than controls, higher Cho/Cr ratio in the left thalamus-pulvinar than the ADHD-I group and higher Glx/Cr ratio in left putamen than individuals with ADHD-I and controls. This metabolic profile suggests a disruption of fronto-striato-thalamic structures in the ADHD-C as a result of lower neuronal energetic metabolism.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Aspartic Acid / analysis
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnostic imaging*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / metabolism*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology
  • Choline / analysis
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Corpus Striatum / diagnostic imaging
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism
  • Corpus Striatum / physiopathology
  • Creatine / analysis
  • Creatine / metabolism
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Frontal Lobe / metabolism
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Glutamic Acid / analysis
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Glutamine / analysis
  • Glutamine / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inositol / analysis
  • Inositol / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Male
  • Prosencephalon / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prosencephalon / metabolism*
  • Prosencephalon / physiopathology
  • Pulvinar / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulvinar / metabolism
  • Pulvinar / physiopathology
  • Putamen / diagnostic imaging
  • Putamen / metabolism
  • Putamen / physiopathology
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Thalamus / diagnostic imaging
  • Thalamus / metabolism
  • Thalamus / physiopathology
  • Young Adult
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analysis
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Glutamine
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Inositol
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate
  • Creatine
  • Choline