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

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Margaretha Dramsdahl
  • Lars Ersland
  • Kerstin J Plessen
  • Jan Haavik
  • Kenneth Hugdahl
  • Karsten Specht
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: Twenty-nine 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.
Original languageEnglish
JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry
Volume2
Pages (from-to)65
ISSN1664-0640
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

ID: 40203387