Assessing the relationship between maternal risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and functional connectivity in their biological toddlers. Issue 1 (13th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kerr-German, Anastasia; White, Stuart F.; Santosa, Hendrik; Buss, Aaron T.; Doucet, Gaelle E.
• Is Part Of: European psychiatry. Volume 65:Issue 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10-13
• Subjects: ADHD -- attention -- fNIRS -- functional connectivity -- passive viewing -- toddlers; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2325
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0924-9338

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with increased risk for poor educational attainment and compromised social integration. Currently, clinical diagnosis rarely occurs before school-age, despite behavioral signs of ADHD in very early childhood. There is no known brain biomarker for ADHD risk in children ages 2–3 years-old. Methods: The current study aimed to investigate the functional connectivity (FC) associated with ADHD risk in 70 children aged 2.5 and 3.5 years via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in bilateral frontal and parietal cortices; regions involved in attentional and goal-directed cognition. Children were instructed to passively watch videos for approximately 5 min. Risk for ADHD in each child was assessed via maternal symptoms of ADHD, and brain data was evaluated for FC. Results: Higher risk for maternal ADHD was associated with lower FC in a left-sided parieto-frontal network. Further, the interaction between sex and risk for ADHD was significant, where FC reduction in a widespread bilateral parieto-frontal network was associated with higher risk in male, but not female, participants. Conclusions: These findings suggest functional organization differences in the parietal–frontal network in toddlers at risk for ADHD; potentially advancing the understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the development of ADHD.