Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. A brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Dramsdahl, Margaretha; Ersland, Lars; Plessen, Kerstin von; Haavik, Jan; Hugdahl, Kenneth; Specht, Karsten
Peer reviewed, Journal article
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https://hdl.handle.net/1956/5338
Date
2011-11-23
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Frontiers in Psychiatry 2(65)   https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00065
Abstract
Background: Impaired cognitive control in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be related to a prefrontal cortical glutamatergic deficit. We assessed the glutamate level in the left and the right midfrontal region including the anterior cingulate cortex in adults with ADHD and healthy controls. Methods: Twentynine adults with ADHD and 38 healthy controls were included. We used Proton Magnetic Resonance Imaging with single voxel point-resolved spectroscopy to measure the ratio of glutamate to creatine (Glu/Cre) in the left and the right midfrontal region in the two groups. Results: The ADHD group showed a significant reduction of Glu/Cre in the left midfrontal region compared to the controls. Conclusion: The reduction of Glu/Cre in the left midfrontal region in the ADHD group may reflect a glutamatergic deficit in prefrontal neuronal circuitry in adults with ADHD, resulting in problems with cognitive control.
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Frontiers Research Foundation
Copyright
Copyright: 2011 Dramsdahl, Ersland, Plessen, Haavik, Hugdahl and Specht. This is an open-access article subject to a non-exclusive license between the authors and Frontiers Media SA, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in other forums, provided the original authors and source are credited and other Frontiers conditions are complied with.