A new study published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry reveals that people suffering from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could benefit from the stimulant drug methylphenidate as it 'normalizes' activation of several brain areas in young ADHD patients.
The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part Wolters Kluwer Health.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder that affects normal behavior and impairs the ability to concentrate.
Advertisement
Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show increased activation of key brain areas after a dose of methylphenidate in young patients with ADHD, according to the systematic review by Constance A. Moore, PhD, and colleagues of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. They write, "In most cases, this increase 'normalized' activation of at least some brain areas to levels seen in typically developing children."
How Do ADHD Medications Affect the Brain in ADHD Patients?In a research review, Dr Moore and colleagues identified nine previous studies using fMRI to study patterns of brain activation in response to a single dose of methylphenidate. Perhaps best known by the brand name Ritalin, methylphenidate is a common and effective treatment for ADHD. "Although methylphenidate has been shown to significantly improve the behavioral symptoms associated with ADHD, both the mechanism behind its therapeutic effect and its direct effects on brain function are unknown," the researchers write.
![Exposure to Smoking in Prenatal Stage Increases ADHD Risk in Children]( "Exposure to Smoking in Prenatal Stage Increases ADHD Risk in Children")
Some expectant mothers who smoke during pregnancy may be exposing their baby to the risk of the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study
The studies evaluated methylphenidate-induced fMRI changes in various brain areas, as the participants performed different types of tasks. Most of the studies included adolescent boys with ADHD, along with matched groups of young people without ADHD.
Methylphenidate altered activation patterns in widely distributed areas of the brain in ADHD patients, the results showed. The main brain areas involved were the frontal lobes, the basal ganglia, and cerebellum: "Abnormalities in these regions have all been implicated in patients with ADHD," Dr Moore and coauthors write.
Different areas were activated during different types of fMRI tasks. Several studies assessed performance on "inhibitory control" tasks—the ability to control certain types of accustomed ("prepotent") responses. In three out of five studies, methylphenidate "at least partially normalized" brain activation in ADHD patients, compared to healthy young people.
Different Tasks Affect Different Brain AreasA few studies showed similar normalization of brain responses with methylphenidate on tasks of selective attention and time perception—although not on tasks evaluating working memory. Methylphenidate mainly affected activation in the frontal lobes during inhibitory control tasks. During selective attention tasks, a wider range of brain areas were affected.
Since none of the studies evaluated ADHD symptoms on and off methylphenidate, there was no way to link the changes in brain activation with clinical improvement. Brain activation patterns with methylphenidate differed for patients who were versus were not previously treated with stimulants for ADHD.
Patients with ADHD have "age-inappropriate frequency or severity of inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive behaviors," according to the authors. It affects about five percent of children worldwide, and a growing body of evidence suggests that ADHD persists throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Functional fMRI provides a safe, noninvasive way to study how stimulants like methylphenidate may act in the brain of ADHD patients.
The new analysis suggests that methylphenidate partially normalizes activation in key brain areas thought to be involved in ADHD. The studies "may provide evidence that methylphenidate facilitates the return of brain function in ADHD patients to, or close to, a typically functioning state," Dr Moore and colleagues write. They call for further research to confirm that methylphenidate-induced changes in specific brain areas are correlated with improvement in ADHD symptoms.
Source: Eurekalert
Exposure to Smoking in Prenatal Stage Increases ADHD Risk in Children
Some expectant mothers who smoke during pregnancy may be exposing their baby to the risk of the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study
Advertisement
The studies evaluated methylphenidate-induced fMRI changes in various brain areas, as the participants performed different types of tasks. Most of the studies included adolescent boys with ADHD, along with matched groups of young people without ADHD.
Methylphenidate altered activation patterns in widely distributed areas of the brain in ADHD patients, the results showed. The main brain areas involved were the frontal lobes, the basal ganglia, and cerebellum: "Abnormalities in these regions have all been implicated in patients with ADHD," Dr Moore and coauthors write.
Different areas were activated during different types of fMRI tasks. Several studies assessed performance on "inhibitory control" tasks—the ability to control certain types of accustomed ("prepotent") responses. In three out of five studies, methylphenidate "at least partially normalized" brain activation in ADHD patients, compared to healthy young people.
Different Tasks Affect Different Brain AreasA few studies showed similar normalization of brain responses with methylphenidate on tasks of selective attention and time perception—although not on tasks evaluating working memory. Methylphenidate mainly affected activation in the frontal lobes during inhibitory control tasks. During selective attention tasks, a wider range of brain areas were affected.
Since none of the studies evaluated ADHD symptoms on and off methylphenidate, there was no way to link the changes in brain activation with clinical improvement. Brain activation patterns with methylphenidate differed for patients who were versus were not previously treated with stimulants for ADHD.
Patients with ADHD have "age-inappropriate frequency or severity of inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive behaviors," according to the authors. It affects about five percent of children worldwide, and a growing body of evidence suggests that ADHD persists throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Functional fMRI provides a safe, noninvasive way to study how stimulants like methylphenidate may act in the brain of ADHD patients.
The new analysis suggests that methylphenidate partially normalizes activation in key brain areas thought to be involved in ADHD. The studies "may provide evidence that methylphenidate facilitates the return of brain function in ADHD patients to, or close to, a typically functioning state," Dr Moore and colleagues write. They call for further research to confirm that methylphenidate-induced changes in specific brain areas are correlated with improvement in ADHD symptoms.
Source: Eurekalert
Nine in 10 Doctors Do Not Follow Clinical Guidelines in Treating ADHD in Preschoolers
Just one in 10 doctors who diagnose and manage ADHD in preschoolers follow the pharmacotherapy clinical guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Drug News
Amoxicillin-clavulanate use in acute sinusitis patients is associated with a higher incidence of adverse events.
Professionals advocate for enhanced education of patients and caregivers, and creation of more effective child-resistant systems for monitoring ADHD medication.
In June, WHO raised concerns about 7 Indian cough syrups after complaints from several countries about contamination and health issues.
Women using hormonal contraception, along with their healthcare providers, should explore alternative pain relief options instead of NSAIDs.
The recently created assay identifies antipsychotic drugs present in sweat.
