Correlations of ADHD symptoms with neurometabolites measured by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract

Objectives: Despite the number of studies on neurometabolite changes in ADHD (Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder), there is lack of evidence on neurometabolite associations with ADHD symptoms.

Background: We aimed to find the correlations of neurometabolites with ADHD symptoms.

Methods: Twenty ADHD children were examined by means of 1H-MRS. The spectra were taken from dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and white matter behind DLPFC, bilaterally. Neurometabolites were correlated with ADHD-RS-IV (ADHD-Rating Scales IV), CPRS (Conners Parent rating Scale) and DPREMB (Daily Parent Rating of Evening and Morning Behavior) scores.

Results: NAA/Cr (N-acetylaspartate/creatine) in the right DLPFC positively correlated with CPRS subscale IV learning problems and negatively correlated in the left white matter with DPREMB morning behavior subscale and ADHD-RS-IV score. Glx/Cr (glutamate + glutamine/creatine) positively correlated in the right white matter with ADHD-RS-IV and negatively correlated in the left white matter with DPREMB morning behavior subscale score. Cho/Cr (choline/creatine) in the left white matter negatively correlated with DPREMB morning behavior subscale and ADHD-RS-IV score.

Conclusion: ADHD symptoms could result from different activities of the left- and right-hemisphere prefrontal circuits. In consequence to impulses to novel task searching the increased right prefrontal circuit activity could be mediated by different motivational control (Fig. 9, Ref. 73).