title: Proton spectroscopy in medication-free pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frontal-striatal pathway has been previously implicated in the neuropathology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Hence, we used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to examine metabolite levels in the prefrontal cortex of children with ADHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine age- and gender-matched case-control pairs were examined, ages 7 to 16 years. A long-echo 1H-MRS scan was acquired from the right prefrontal cortex and left striatum in all subjects. Compounds that can be visualized with 1H-MRS include N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), glutamate/glutamine/gamma-aminobutyric acid (Glx), creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr), and choline compounds (Cho).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frontal-striatal glutamatergic resonances were elevated in the children with ADHD as compared to healthy control subjects. No differences were noted in NAA, Cho, or Cr metabolite ratios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that frontal-striatal Glx resonances may be increased in children with ADHD in comparison with healthy control subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: MacMaster
authors.forename: Normand
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carrey
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sparkes
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kusumakar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000378:metabolism*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D011522:Protons; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D002794:Choline