Disturbed Structural Connectivity of Frontostriatal and Frontoparietal Networks in Adults With ADHD

Disturbed Structural Connectivity of Frontostriatal and Frontoparietal Networks in Adults With Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, impairing, childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorder with executive dysfunctions. The ADHD symptoms and executive deficits may last to adulthood. Our previous studies, like western results, have shown that children with ADHD have disrupted microstructural integrity of frontostriatal fiber pathways and impaired brain activity in frontoparietal network. However, there is lack of data with regards to whether adults with ADHD also demonstrate structural and functional disconnectivity of frontostriatal and frontoparietal networks as compared to healthy controls without ADHD in Asian population and no study has been done to correlate a wide range of executive functions with the connectivity of these two networks.

Specific Aims:

1. to compare the executive functions, and structural and functional connectivity in frontostriatal and frontoparietal circuitries between adults with ADHD and healthy controls without ADHD;
2. to correlate the data from structural and functional connectivity, executive functions, and ADHD core symptoms stratifying by the ADHD and controls; and
3. to explore other circuitries that may involve in ADHD by using whole brain tractography analyses.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects aged 18-45, who have clinical diagnosis of a ADHD according to the DSM-IV criteria.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The subjects will be excluded from the study if they meet any of the following criteria: (1) Comorbidity with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, other psychotic disorder, organic psychosis, schizotypal personality disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, severe anxiety disorders or substance use; (2) With neurodegenerative disorder, epilepsy, involuntary movement disorder, congenital metabolic disorder, brain tumor, history of severe head trauma, and history of craniotomy; (3)With visual or hearing impairments, or motor disability which may influence the process of MRI assessment; and (4) Full-scale IQ lower than 80.