Anterior cingulate volumetric alterations in treatment-naïve adults with ADHD: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine preliminary results of brain alterations in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in treatment-naïve adults with ADHD. The ACC is a central brain node for the integration of cognitive control and allocation of attention, affect and drive. Thus its anatomical alteration may give rise to impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention, which are cardinal behavioral manifestations of ADHD.


METHODS
Segmentation and parcellation of the ACC was performed on controls (n = 22), treated (n = 13) and treatment-naïve adults with ADHD (n = 13).


RESULTS
There was a 21% volume reduction in the left ACC of the treatment-naïve group relative to the control group. Also, there was a 23% volume reduction in the right ACC of the treated group relative to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results raise the possibility that in ADHD there are volumetric deficits persistent into adulthood, that are independent of medical treatment.
Makris
Nikos
N
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA. nikos@cma.mgh.harvard.edu
Seidman
Larry J
LJ
Valera
Eve M
EM
Biederman
Joseph
J
Monuteaux
Michael C
MC
Kennedy
David N
DN
Caviness
Verne S
VS
Bush
George
G
Crum
Katherine
K
Brown
Ariel B
AB
Faraone
Stephen V
SV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects