Positron emission tomography neuroimaging for a better understanding of the biology of ADHD.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by inappropriate symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and motor restlessness. Converging data from neuropsychological, genetic, neurochemical and pharmacological studies have implicated fronto-striatal network abnormalities as the likely cause of ADHD. The functional imaging field has evolved rapidly providing unprecedented tools to examine questions regarding the pathophysiology of ADHD and the biological effects of medications used to treat it. Positron emission tomography (PET) provides unique quantitative information on the spatial resolution of radiolabelled molecules in the brain of patients or healthy subjects allowing the longitudinal assessment of physiological parameters such as binding potential over extended periods of time. The main goal of this review is to provide an overview of PET studies performed in ADHD patients, discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses and show how they can complement one another to enable a better understanding of the neurobiology and the neuropharmacology of this disease.
Zimmer
Luc
L
Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, EAC CNRS 5006, University of Lyon 1, Lyon, France; PET Department, CERMEP-Imagerie du Vivant, 69003 Lyon, France. zimmer@univ-lyon1.fr
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D005947:Glucose; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine